Donate and win: Annual birthday fundraiser for J.K. Rowling’s charity, Lumos, goes live!
There are many fun and exciting things for Harry Potter fans to do during the summer months – we just wrapped up our Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations, we were treated to a brief preview of the all-new Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley before the scheduled grand opening on July 8, and LeakyCon is just around the corner.
Perhaps with all that excitement to look forward to, you might have forgotten, much like the Dursleys, that there is an important date coming up. A certain author and a very special wizard will be celebrating their birthdays, right in the middle of this year’s LeakyCon!
To help J.K. Rowling (and Harry!) celebrate her special day, the now annual fundraiser Light Up Jo’s Birthday with Lumos is bringing you an opportunity to bring a smile to Jo’s face and also do a bit of good in the world. For those who don’t already know, Jo founded Lumos in 2005 after seeing an article in the paper about children in institutions in Eastern Europe. Moved by the shocking conditions and treatment of these children, she felt compelled to do something and continues to chair the organization to this day. To find out more about Lumos, visit their website here.
Light Up Jo’s Birthday with Lumos has raised over £4,500 for Jo’s charity since 2012 when the fundraiser was created by a fan who wanted to do something for Jo that she would appreciate. Rebecca Hunt and her friends have run the fundraiser on their own, creating graphics to advertise the fan project and contacting various players within the Harry Potter franchise for items to give fans incentive to donate and raise money for Lumos. This year, the organizers hope to raise twice the amount from last year – nearly £3,200 – if not more! All funds raised from this event go directly to Lumos.
How can you help? We’re glad you asked!
You can donate any amount (in any currency, just use a converter to get the British pound equivalent) by visiting the fundraising website here – but keep in mind, only donations of £5 and over will be entered in the drawings for the grand prize. All other donations of any amount will be entered for the other prizes, which have been generously donated by those closest to the Harry Potter franchise, including Rupert Grint, Matthew Lewis, and Warwick Davis. The chance to win prizes for donating are open to everyone around the world. The drawing will be held after LeakyCon, on August 7.
Now for the information you really want to know: What are the prizes up for grabs? This year, the folks at Light Up Jo’s Birthday with Lumos have decided to offer TWO grand prizes along with ten other runner-up prizes. Let’s take a look, shall we?
- A sketch of Harry Potter by Thomas Taylor, cover art illustrator for Philosopher’s Stone
- A sketch of Dobby by Jason Cockcroft, cover art illustrator for Order of the Phoenix (UK), Half-Blood Prince (UK), and Deathly Hallows (UK)
- A signed copy of Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book by Andrew Williamson, concept artist for the Harry Potter films
- A signed copy of ASOS Magazine, featuring Rupert Grint
- A signed photo of Matthew Lewis
- A signed photo of Warwick Davis as Griphook, donated by the Signature Shop
- An official house scarf of your choosing donated by the Warner Bros. Studio Tour (remember to leave your house either with your name or in your comment if you’d like to be entered for this!)
And finally…. a drum roll, please! The two grand prize winners will receive an autographed copy of Robert Galbraith’s second novel, The Silkworm.
Well, what are you waiting for? Head on over to the fundraising site, and get those donations in as a way to wish Jo a happy birthday and to say thanks for creating this wonderful world for all of us Muggles to play in!
Make sure to check out the frequently asked questions section of the fundraiser if you need more information, and for those attending LeakyCon in Orlando this month, both MuggleNet and Light Up Jo’s Birthday with Lumos staff will be in attendance. Come on over and say hello!
