'Star Wars' fans raise millions for UNICEF
Director J.J. Abrams tweets a thank-you to fans who raised millions, and gives another clue from the set of "Star Wars: Episode VII."
"Star Wars" fans have gone to the charitable side, raising big money for UNICEF Innovation Labs, the research arm of the UN children's charity.
"Star Wars: Episode VII" director J.J. Abrams thanked fans on Twitter for their financial contributions -- $4.26 million to be exact -- to the Star Wars: Force for Change campaign. Disney then added $1 million to the total raised, bringing the grand total to over $5 million dollars.
"Huge thanks to everyone who contributed to Star Wars: Force For Change!" Abrams wrote on a handwritten note posted to Twitter. "Over five million dollars were raised to help UNICEF Innovation Labs! We are all so grateful. DC Barns, see you on the set!"
Denver-based D.C. Barns is the lucky fan who donated money and ended up winning the Star Wars: Force for Change grand prize, which includes a trip to London for himself and a guest, behind-the-scenes access on the closed set of "Star Wars: Episode VII" as a VIP guest of Abrams, a chance to meet members of the cast, and most importantly, the chance to appear in costume in "Star Wars: Episode VII."
When members of the Star Wars: Force for Change team surprised Barns in his office with the news and asked what his favorite "Star Wars" moment was, Barns answered, "This! This is my new favorite Star Wars moment!"
Aside from naming the winner of Star Wars: Force for Change grand prize, Abrams may have left fans another clue to a possible character in the upcoming "Star Wars: Episode VII." Just who or what is holding his handwritten note in the tweet? Could it be a glimpse of a familiar Skywalker's robotic hand or perhaps a new droid we have yet to meet? We'll all know for sure when the film is released in theaters on December 18, 2015.