GLENDALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As fans count down to the premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Disney, Target and Star Wars: Force for Change are launching a new fashion-meets-fundraising initiative inspired by the themes of rebellion from the new movie. Ten influential names across film, music, fashion and sports have come together to support UNICEF Kid Power by creating a line of “Force 4 Fashion” T-shirts available exclusively in the U.S. at Target beginning November 27.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will introduce fans to a group of rebels who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. Each of the T-shirt designs celebrates this theme using a powerful slogan to represent the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
Five dollars from the sale of each shirt will be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF Kid Power. Through this unique initiative, kids can complete physical activities and interactive challenges to earn points—which ultimately are used to provide life-saving packets of food for severely malnourished children around the world. The more kids move, the more points they earn, the more kids they help.
“This campaign is about raising funds and awareness for UNICEF Kid Power’s mission to improve the lives of children everywhere,” said Paul Southern, senior vice president of licensing for Lucasfilm at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “Everyone connected to this initiative has been a Force for Change in different ways, and we hope their stories will inspire others to get involved.”
The Force 4 Fashion line was designed with support from Riz Ahmed, June Ambrose, Steve Aoki, Camilla Belle, Gareth Edwards, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Olivia Munn, Kelly Slater, and Brittany Snow, who’ve all been active in supporting different causes through their careers. In addition to purchasing the special T-shirts, fans can join the rebellion by sharing their own inspiring stories and posting on social channels how they are a #ForceForChange on “Giving Tuesday,” November 29.
"I love Star Wars and I'm passionate about giving back,” said Steve Aoki. “The opportunity to partner with Lucasfilm and Target to design a shirt that benefits UNICEF is something I've enjoyed being a part of and I hope my fans love it as much as I do."
“Investing in our children means a brighter future for all, and this holiday season, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF is thrilled Star Wars: Force for Change and this “Force 4 Fashion” initiative are supporting UNICEF Kid Power,” said Caryl M. Stern, President & CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “UNICEF Kid Power helps us to stand and give every child hope. With every step, kids get active and save lives, moving the world closer towards ending global malnutrition.”
Since the UNICEF Kid Power program launch in 2014, more than 190,000 UNICEF Kid Power Team Members have become active, earning more than 12.5 million Kid Power Points and unlocking more than 5.1 million packets of lifesaving therapeutic food for severely malnourished children. Star Wars: Force for Change announced its collaboration with UNICEF Kid Power in May 2015 and continues to be a presenting sponsor of the initiative program.
To learn more about the “Force 4 Fashion” shirts, visit Target.com and to learn more about being a #ForceForChange, visit ForceForChange.com.
About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive
Media
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media
(DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)
that brings our Company’s stories and characters to life through
innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across
more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and
console games. DCPI comprises two main lines of business: Disney
Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney Interactive (DI). The combined
segment is home to world class teams of app and game developers,
licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store),
artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations
around the world.
About Lucasfilm Ltd. (@StarWars)
Lucasfilm
Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global
leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In
addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s
activities include visual effects and audio post-production,
cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and
the management of the global merchandising activities for its
entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA
JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern
California.
About Star Wars: Force For Change
Star
Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and
Disney, harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and
improve the lives of children around the world. Born in 2014, it was
inspired by Star Wars fans, and the countless hours they have
dedicated to philanthropy over the past three decades. To date, over $12
million has been raised for charitable causes around the world on behalf
of Star Wars: Force for Change, including $8M towards UNICEF’s
programs to put children first. With a bright future ahead, and new Star
Wars stories to be told, Force for Change aims to continue
collaborating with causes and encouraging others to be forces for change
in their own community. To learn more, please visit ForceForChange.com.
About “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
From
Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One:
A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of
conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal
the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of
destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings
together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in
doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is directed by Gareth Edwards and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, with Jiang Wen and Forest Whitaker. Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel are producing, with John Knoll and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” opens in U.S. theaters on December 16, 2016.
About Target (@Target)
Minneapolis-based Target
Corporation (NYSE:TGT) serves guests at 1,802 stores and at Target.com.
Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities,
which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information,
visit Target.com/Pressroom.
For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or
follow @TargetNews on Twitter.
About UNICEF (@unicefusa)
The
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries
and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more
children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing
health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition,
education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports
UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United
States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die
from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy
childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.Find
us on Twitter: @unicefusa;
join us on Facebook: UNICEF-USA.
STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.