Written by Denise Gary
Shall we just start off with this?
John Schneider © Bruce Matsunaga
Oh yes, John Schneider – he was the talk of multitudes of ladies at Phoenix Comicon! They floated away from his table on clouds, giggling with broad smiles playing upon their faces. Of course, I am much too dignified to be affected in such a way. I talked to Mr. Schneider in a completely calm manner, exuding confidence and authority. . . . Yeah, let’s move on to some of the other stars. All were incredibly gracious toward Kids Need to Read, signing a gorgeous lithograph of the headlining convention stars created by artist Jason Palmer. Jason has always been wonderful to Kids Need to Read and we appreciate his generous gift to the foundation. We also thank the ever-thoughtful Mike Dougherty for procuring this item for us to have signed! I must add that because of my involvement with childhood literacy, it was a pleasure to meet and shake hands with the extremely warm LeVar Burton.
Clockwise from Top Left: Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, James Marsters, and LeVar Burton © Bruce Matsunaga
Several stars signed two Rock Band guitars used during Wil Wheaton’s Celebrity Rock Band event and at the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom. We are most grateful to Phoenix Comicon for donating these guitars to KNTR for our auctions.
Debbie Brown holds a Rock Band guitar while Wil Wheaton signs it for KNTR. © Bruce Matsunaga
Did I mention John Schneider?
© Bruce Matsunaga
Thursday Preview Night found us meeting up and having good fun with some of our Browncoats: Redemption buddies. Michael Dougherty, Heather Fagan, Dan Sheehan, Logan Liskovec, and Sabrina Maizland all came to experience Phoenix Comicon for the first time.
Top: Michael Dougherty © Denise Gary; Bottom: Michael Dougherty and Denise Gary © Lisa Richins
These amazing folks assisted Kids Need to Read the entire weekend, both at the booth and at the Geek Prom. I can never express enough gratitude for all they do for KNTR.
Sabrina Maizland and Heather Fagan of Browncoats: Redemption are joined by KNTR volunteer Tina Worley. © Denise Gary
Marco Regalado of Pop Culture Paradise came bearing loads of geeky gifts for KNTR. (We appreciate how good you are to us, Marco!)
Marco Regalado © Denise Gary
I had a bunch of fun sitting in on the Browncoats: Redemption panel on Friday. The room was full of people anxious for news about this charitable film project, whose storyline picks up after the end of the movie, Serenity. The film will be released on DVD at Dragon*Con 2010. Kids Need to Read is a partial beneficiary of the project, along with several other charities with ties to Joss Whedon and Firefly/Serenity actors. Of course, Kids Need to Read’s connection is due to one of our founders, Nathan Fillion, whom I jokingly referred to as “just some guy” during the panel. (See video.)
Top: Denise Gary © Heather Fagan; Bottom: Casey Shultz, Denise Gary, Sabrina Maizland, Heather Fagan, and Michael Dougherty © Robert Tabb
The super cool Geek Arch arrived in the KNTR booth on Saturday morning. This incredible structure glorifying all that is Geek was created by KNTR volunteer Roxanne Rousakis and her co-worker Andrew Tans.
KNTR Volunteers Alicia Summers and Sherrie Miller © Bruce Matsunaga
Naturally, it attracted like kind!
© Bruce Matsunaga
The Arizona Browncoats conducted a fun Browncoat Scavenger Hunt on Saturday afternoon, the proceeds of which benefited KNTR. After donating $5 to play, folks went off in search of specially marked people, who held secret letters.
© Bruce Matsunaga
© Bruce Matsunaga
Once all of the letters were gathered, they had to be arranged into a special Browncoat phrase. There were lots of participants, but Cailin was the first to decode the phrase. She won a package filled with signed Firefly/Serenity memorabilia donated by Browncoats: Redemption, Bookmans, and KNTR. Way to go, Cailin!
© Alicia Summers
We thank the Arizona Browncoats for conducting this shiny fundraiser for KNTR, which earned $75 for the foundation. I would like to add a special shout out to David Richins for organizing the romp!
Arizona Browncoats David Richins, Jennifer Anderson, and Patrick Kelch © Bruce Matsunaga
Several of the Arizona Browncoats lent KNTR a hand in the booth, including the extremely dapper Raymond Wolfe. (Thanks so much Raymond, David and Lisa Richins, Jennifer Anderson, and Brian Esterson!)
Top Left: Raymond Wolfe © Heather Fagan; Top Right: Brian Esterson © Bruce Matsunaga; Bottom (Left to Right): Patrick Kelch, Caylee Hoover, Heather Fagan, Raymond Wolfe, Michael Dougherty, Jennifer Anderson, and Lisa Richins © Lisa Richins
Saturday and Sunday afternoons featured the magic of Steven Riley, who entertained young and old alike with his hilarious performances on behalf of KNTR. (Please see Surviving Riley! Yukking it Up for Kids!)
Steven Riley © Bruce Matsunaga
Saturday evening brought our signature fundraising party, the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom. The sold-out event was sponsored by the wonderful folks at Bookmans. We were also provided with much support from Phoenix Comicon. (Please see Geekdom Floods the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom, Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton Preside over Geeky-anity at the Kids Need to Read Geek Prom, and How to Dress in Style at a Geek Prom!
© Bruce Matsunaga
The Star Wars Pavilion presented the Smuggler’s Run fundraiser for KNTR on Sunday afternoon. For a $5 contribution, players had to retrieve special items from participating booths in the Exhibitor’s Hall, all the while avoiding arrest by Imperial Troopers and Mandalorian Bounty Hunters. KNTR gave out special literacy Star Wars buttons, in keeping with the collectible buttons we have created and given away since our inception. I found myself arrested by a Mando Merc and thrown in jail. Not to be defeated, I pick-pocketed a very nice pen from the jailer holding me captive.
© Robert Tabb
Thanks so much to the five Star Wars groups who conducted this merriment for us. The boisterous benefit raised $340 for KNTR. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Jen and Lee Palmer for their warm welcome, Thomas Boyer who worked so hard to construct the jail, my pal Lance Dworshak for his continuous support for KNTR, David Littleton for constructing the awesome Droid donation jar for our booth, Mike Little for his beautiful Smuggler’s Run art work, as well as Carol Duckworth and Dustin Dial. I had a great time and miss y’all’s Sunday meetings!
Feeding the Donation Droid! © Bruce Matsunaga
As always, the Kids Need to Read staff and volunteers found their way to fun and camaraderie amidst all of their very hard work. Thank you for everything you give to KNTR!
Top: Tina Worley © Heather Fagan; Alicia Summers and Sherrie Miller © Bruce Matsunaga; Middle: Marianne Luskey © Bruce Matsunaga; Bottom © Michael Dougherty
Of course, there is always time for kids and books! Phoenix Comicon places an emphasis on programming for children, and always features many children’s and young adult authors.
Sherrie Miller and Family © Bruce Matsunaga
I cannot use enough superlatives to describe our super fantastic event photographer, Bruce Matsunaga, pictured here in what I believe to be his favorite photo of the convention. (Thanks so much, Bruce!)
Photographer Bruce Matsunaga poses with Felicia Day © Bruce Matsunaga
Did I show this picture already?
© Bruce Matsunaga
