Costumes for a Cause: Popular Costumed Charity Events
Costumes are becoming more ubiquitous throughout media. Not only is the cosplay subculture gaining popularity, more and more often, costumes are being used as a means to generate awareness for charitable causes. And why wouldn’t they? Costumes are not only lots of fun for the person wearing it; costumes make heads turn no matter where you’re wearing it. Today, we wanted to take a look at how people are using costumed charity events to help the community.
Masquerade Balls
Masquerade balls are a snazzy way to raise money for charities and are a popular theme all year-round. This is usually a black tie type of event that draws in a high income crowd. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, silent auctions, and mingling are done all in the name of raising money for a cause. After all, if you’re going to raise money for charity, you may as well do it in style!
Disney Marathons
One of the biggest names in entertainment does not take its status lightly. In fact, Disney regularly uses its name to raise money for charity by hosting a variety of themed marathons. They have a variety of themes based off their most popular franchises including an Avengers-themed run, a Star Wars run, and a Disney Princess run.
Superhero Runs
Disney is not the only one hosting superhero runs. There are lots of other charity groups hosting superhero-themed runs. This summer, a local group hosted the Jr. Hero Run which raised money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. This is a great example of a costumed charity event that appeals to kids. Not only are they encouraging kids to participate, the funds go to children as well!
Zombie Marathons
Thanks to the popularity of The Walking Dead, zombie culture has blown up and charities are using this to their advantage. Everyone who has ever watched TWD has wondered if they would survive the zombie apocalypse and now with zombie marathons, you can put yourself to the test. They make marathons fun by challenging the runners to “survive” hoards of zombies. Entrants have a chance to run the marathon or to be a zombie which is pretty cool since you get to choose how you participate.
Character Visits
You may have seen news reports circulating around the internet – a celebrity visits a sick child dressed as a famous character they played. These celebrities include Johnny Depp and Chris Pratt who have visited children’s hospitals dressed as and Captain Jack Sparrow and Star-Lord (respectively). However, it’s not just celebrities who are cheering up kids while in costume. Costume guilds such as the 501st Legion who specialize in Storm Trooper cosplay frequently visit children in the community to inspire and encourage them.
These inspiring activists show that you don’t actually need superhero powers to make a difference in your community. Have you ever participated in a costumed charity event? If so, let us know by leaving a comment!
