The grand prize winner of the Star Wars: Force for Change contest has been announced!
D.C. Barns of Denver, Colorado was chosen from among millions of fans from over 125 countries who took part in the Force for Change campaign that Lucasfilm and Omaze founded in order to benefit Unicef.
From the official Star Wars site announcement:
"With an exciting initiative that offered a chance to win unique rewards and prizes, including a once-in-a-lifetime grand prize, Star Wars: Force for Change raised $4,261,410 USD for the United Nations Children’s Fund. Donations were received via fundraising platform Omaze from citizens of 125 countries and enough money was donated to fund the equivalent of 7-8 new UNICEF Innovation Labs. The grand-prize winner was D.C. Barns of Denver Colorado, who shared during on a donor video chat that the first time he saw Star Wars when it opened in theaters in 1977, when he was only five. “I loved it! … I just couldn’t get it out of my head of 35 years.” D.C. was then asked to share his favorite Star Wars moment. As he began to reply, he was suddenly surprised in his Denver office by members of Star Wars: Force for Change team. Once settled, D.C. exclaimed, “This! This is my new favorite Star Wars moment!”D.C. will enjoy a trip to London for himself and a guest, a behind-the-scenes visit to the Star Wars set, and will be fitted with a costume and filmed for a scene in Star Wars: Episode Vll."
Enjoy the charming video of the Force for Change team surprising Barns with his grand prize:
Star Wars: Episode VII director J.J. Abrams offered his thanks to all who had entered the Force for Change contest by taking to Twitter today. In typical Abrams fashion, he included a clever nod to recent rumors concerning the plot of the new film.
From the Bad Robot Twitter feed:
"“Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to Star Wars: Force for Change! Over five million dollars were raised to help UNICEF Innovation Labs! We are all so grateful. D.C. Barns, see you on set!”J.J."
J.J. Abrams posted this photo to the Bad Robot Twitter feed this afternoon. Note the robot hand.
All of us at DSOTF offer our congratulations to D.C. Barns and to everyone who contributed to the Star Wars: Force for Change campaign. With over $4 million raised, Star Wars fans once again prove that they’re the greatest on Earth.
If you missed our earlier coverage of Star Wars: Force for Change, check out the posts below: