History Harry Potter Alliance

1 history

1.1 2005–2008
1.2 2009–2011
1.3 2012–present

history
2005–2008

the harry potter alliance founded in 2005 comedian andrew slack , wizard rock band harry , potters, collecting donations amnesty international @ shows. in 2006, organisation partnered walmart watch create series of youtube videos dark lord waldemart in order educate fans walmart s labour practices. 3 videos have been viewed 3 , half million times total.

in 2007, harry potter alliance broadcast special edition of pottercast, popular fandom podcast, called becoming dumbledore s army: harry potter fans darfur, educate fans genocide in darfur. partnered stand, student branch of genocide intervention network, , asked members participate in annual standfast project giving 1 luxury week , donating money saved stand benefit civilians in darfur. effort raised $15,000 stand. joined 24 hours darfur project, sought make 24-hour video of individuals speaking out against genocide in darfur, asking members submit videos fans. when cnn.com s asked submissions of fans showing love harry potter ireporter site, harry potter alliance asked members upload submissions showing love harry potter while holding signs said, save darfur. then, in 2008, hpa asked members withhold support sponsors of 2008 summer olympics implicitly funding genocide in darfur through overseas investments.

2009–2011

in conjunction release of harry potter , half-blood prince film in 2009, organisation launched dumbledore campaign, asking fans tweet lessons learned harry potter s headmaster albus dumbledore using #dumbledore, attend film release wearing nametag 1 thing dumbledore taught them, , apply lessons in lives.

the hpa began now-annual accio books! campaign in 2009, collecting on 13,000 books partner agohozo shalom youth village in rwanda. since then, annual drive has collected on 86,000 books, benefiting delta center culture , learning distributed books communities in need across mississippi delta, imagine better library @ bedford-stuvyesant new beginnings charter school, read indeed, books kids, , other local organisations. since 2013, have partnered international quidditch association , nanowrimo campaign.

after 2010 earthquake in haiti, harry potter alliance partnered partners in health , other fan communities create helping heal haiti. of partners, wizard rock community, maureen johnson, john , hank green, hpa auctioned on 100 items including harry potter books , thank card donated j. k. rowling. in 2 weeks, hpa raised on $123,000 partners in health in haiti. money raised helped partners in health charter 5 planes haiti full of medical supplies. planes named after characters in harry potter series , dftba ( don t forget awesome ) in honor of nerdfighter community.

in june 2010, harry potter alliance competed against 10,000 other charitable organizations win grant chase community giving contest on facebook. received 38,689 votes win first place grant of $250,000. money received grant went towards expanding reach , improving literacy , lgbt rights programs.

in june 2010, harry potter alliances , savetheinternet.com joined campaign net neutrality. launched viral video consisting of many well-known figures speaking out cause, several of people took part john green, hank green, wil wheaton, maureen johnson , adam savage. in video urged federal communications commission preserve net neutrality.

in months leading final harry potter film release, harry potter , deathly hallows – part 2, harry potter alliance launched deathly hallows campaign. each month, organisation highlighted different horcrux, or injustice, members work end. first horcrux, starvation wages, focused on inhumane working conditions in chocolate industry , asked harry potter themed chocolate frogs made warner brothers fair-trade certified. later developed hpa s on-going not in harry s name campaign. according website, independent report gave harry potter chocolate f in human rights. executive director andrew slack reached out warner bros. ceo barry m. meyer hpa s concerns, , meyer responded comments commitment ethical sourcing. slack reached out again discuss ways ensure ethical sourcing of potter chocolate, met comment satisfied practices of company using source chocolate. on january 13, 2015, washington post reported warner bros. had committed ensuring end of 2015 harry potter chocolate products sold @ warner bros. outlets , through our licensed partners 100-percent utz or fair trade certified.

during deathly hallows campaign, hpa partnered reachout.com fight effects of depression , dementor horcrux, challenged harmful body image, incorporated accio books! book drive, teamed marriage equality rhode island , gay-straight alliance on marriage equality , bullying, , worked splashlife address climate crisis.

2012–present

on july 31, 2012, staff member julian gomez posted video organization s youtube channel explaining undocumented immigrant. organization partnered define american , later launched superman immigrant campaign, inviting members tell families immigration stories , change conversation immigration reform.

later year, hpa ran fundraiser entitled equality win, or equality ftw, on indiegogo raising total of $94,803 dollars 2,289 donors across globe equality-related initiatives. doubled goal of $50,000. donors gave money in exchange exclusive perks people such john , hank green, potter puppet pals, evanna lynch, leakycon, starkid , more. have repeated fundraiser each fall since, raising on $180,000 in 2013 , on $150,000 in 2014.

at leakycon held in london in 2013, harry potter alliance created apparating library, program attendees donate 1 book library , receive voucher come day during convention redeem voucher different book. library has since been present @ other large fan events, such leakycon , vidcon. in 2014 part of annual accio books campaign, created apparating library in detroit, michigan, distribute books donated through campaign.

with release of hunger games: catching fire in 2013, harry potter alliance launched on-going odds in our favor campaign, focused on economic justice. campaign encouraged fans hijack lionsgate s social media marketing three-finger salutes , discussion of real-world economic inequality. wired described tactics culture jamming . have partnered groups such afl-cio.