Disney/Pixar and Lego Come to Philly!

Last Wednesday I was lucky enough to be invited to the Boys and Girls Club at Wilson Park in North Philadelphia, for a special event sponsored by Pixar, Disney and Lego. (Wow! What a triad of geeky greatness.) I honestly have to say, it’s one thing to simply write about and read all the great things these companies are doing in the world, but it’s a totally different story to see them at work in your own community. That’s how I felt at this event.

The event was in support Toy Story and Toy Story 2, which are both getting a shiny new release on Blu-Ray and DVD tomorrow in anticipation for Toy Story 3, which hits theaters this June 18^th. For the last week, in 6 different cities across the US The Boys and Girls Clubs have been hard at work at Lego murals depicting a different character from Toy Story 1 and 2. Philadelphia got the Aliens panel of the mural. Which I thought was pretty awesome, since they are definitely one of the more iconic characters in the film, and one of my favorites all around.

More after the jump!

On hand at the event was Lego Master Builder Pete Donner, who was there to not only to oversee completion of the final stages of the panel, but also to send it off to California for the premier event. He was nice enough to even give an interview on what it’s like to be a Lego Master Builder; that will run later this week here on Geekadelphia.

Once it arrives in California all six pieces assembled, it will then be signed by the cast at the premier event for the release, then it will be auctioned off. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to The Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

I arrived just in time to see the kids hard at work finishing their panel, with help from the Lego Master Builder. They seemed to really take pride in their work, and Lego donated a ton of Lego sets to the Wilson Park location. As Pete Donner said, “Lego didn’t want to just come and not leave anything behind.” It was honestly like Christmas, tables teeming with Lego, children turning out masterpiece after masterpiece, the floor littered with a colorful confetti of various Lego pieces. Once the mural piece was finished, after a brief photo op and a Q and A with the Master Builder; the piece was then carefully packed to be shipped out to California.

The children were then presented gift bags complements of Disney/Pixar.  The bags contained copies of both Toy Story films, in DVD/Blu-Ray combo packs which hit stores tomorrow. Watching those kids look into those bags and realize what was in there… the looks on their faces were priceless.  Seeing something like this, and in my own city, and my own community was something I will never forget. The look of disbelief and joy on those faces was a wonderful sight. I would like to thank Disney, Pixar and Lego for not only coming to our city, but also touching the lives of some children who can definitely use a little magic and imagination.