Send Kids Awaiting Adoption to Go See 'Spider-Man'
"Anyone can wear the mask. YOU could wear the mask. If you didn't know that before, I hope you do now." —Miles Morales, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
We are raising money to send 35 children who are awaiting adoption at Children's Home & Aid to go see an early screening of Spider-Man: Far From Home, which will be released July 5. The early screening will be at the Century 12 Evanston theater sometime during the week leading up to the official release (most likely July 3-4). To fill the rented auditorium, the kids and their chaperones will be joined by an audience of regular moviegoers who'll buy their own tickets.
While Spider-Man doesn't represent an underrepresented audience the way Black Panther and Captain Marvel did, the kids we wish to send are disadvantaged and at risk. Many of them have experienced trauma or abuse and have difficult mental health or behavioral challenges. As one of the quintessential examples of the "orphan" superhero archetype, Spider-Man represents the greatness these kids are capable of, regardless of their background and origins.
The children we wish to send are those living at the Children's Home & Aid residential facility in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago. There are currently 35 children living at the center. We wish to send all 35 along with 15 staff members from the center to serve as chaperones. Children's Home & Aid has agreed to arrange transportation for the kids to the theater.
Check out this video about the Evanston facility (watch the whole thing as there's a payoff towards the end):
Breakdown of expenses:**
• $15 per ticket for 35 kids: $525
• $15 per ticket for 15 chaperones: $225
• $13 each, refreshments for 35 kids: $455
• $13 each, refreshments for 15 chaperones: $195
TOTAL = $1400
**Any and all additional funds raised beyond the goal will be donated directly to Children's Home & Aid, which is always in need of donations to support its operations. We'll be setting up a separate bank account to receive funds from this campaign.
Children's Home & Aid is a leading non-profit child & family service agency in Illinois. Founded in 1883, it has offices located across Illinois and serves more than 40,000 children and families each year in over 60 counties. Each year, it protects, educates and counsels these children and families to improve their lives.
"There is a home in a good family for every homeless child and woe to me if I do not find it." —Rev. Martin Van Buren Van Arsdale, founder of Children's Home & Aid
COORDINATORS
This fundraiser and event is a joint effort by Pop Mythology (via The Spider Army project) and Third Coast Comics (the best comics shop in Chicago!). We are volunteering our efforts and not profiting from this campaign in any way.
Contact person: Daniel Jun Kim
SOCIAL MEDIA
Pop Mythology: Twitter / Facebook
Third Coast Comics: Twitter / Facebook
Children's Home & Aid: Twitter / Facebook
"The Spider Army": Facebook
(all photos via childrenshomeandaid.org )