Comic Con Caring
Published on May 1st, 2017 | Updated on May 1st, 2017 | By FanFest
East Coast Comic Con (ECCC) took place this past weekend at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. It was a flurry of comic creators, artists, celebrities, cosplayers and collectibles. Amidst all the heroes at ECCC it was heartwarming to see some that were beyond super. I’d like to highlight a couple of worthwhile causes that were represented by some very kind guests. Thank you to lovely actress Chase Masterston and talented artist Will Torres for sharing their positivity, good will, and generosity.
Accomplished actress Chase Masterson has appeared onscreen in many fan favorites such as Star Trek and The Flash. She also happens to be very passionate in raising awareness about bullying and spoke with me a bit about her organization, Pop Culture Hero Coalition. “Founded in 2013, Pop Culture Hero Coalition works to educate and support children, teens and adults to overcome bullying and social injustice, and to transform their struggles into strengths, using stories and characters from pop culture TV, film, and comics. We create, promote and foster a culture free from the injustice of bullying, cyberbullying, hate crimes, and inequality based on gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual identity or preference, physical disability, mental disability, learning disability, or any other perceived vulnerability.” (Pop Culture Hero Coalition. Retrieved from https://www.popculturehero.org/mission)
Will Torres along with fellow creator Fabrice Sapolsky were also in attendance at East Coast Comic. It was their mision to raise funds for The Hero Initiative. “The Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for comic creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. Since inception, the Hero Initiative has been fortunate enough to benefit more than 50 creators and their families with over $950,000 worth of much-needed aid, fueled by your contributions! It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.” (The Hero Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.heroinitiative.org/home/)
Both Will and Fabrice were graciously busy creating sketch art to the delight of many fans, with all proceeds going to The Hero Initiative. Will happily expressed that the weekend had been quite successful in raising funds. I cannot think of a better way to support the individuals that work so hard in creating the characters we love and the worlds in which they exist. How can you be a hero? Check out The “What Can I Do Page” on The Hero Initiative website for information on volunteering, membership and donations.
Full-time fangirl and part-time manager. A comic-con junkie with a passion for writing and great artwork. Catch me… if you can!
