Dragon Con, the internationally known pop culture convention, returned to Atlanta from September 3rd–7th to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Over four decades, Dragon Con has grown into a global community of attendees and fans, expanding far beyond what its co-founders could have imagined. Atlanta residents know the convention’s visual impact well – tourists, costumes, and capes fill the city. But, like any great superhero story, the highly anticipated weekend is about much more than capes and costumes.
Dragons, Donors, and Donations
Giving back has been part of Dragon Con’s identity since its inception. Co-founder Pat Henry shared that the organizers always wanted to create a welcoming space for everyone – even inviting unhoused neighbors to join them and hosting breakfasts for people in need. This year, Dragon Con deepened its commitment to Atlanta and surrounding communities while setting new records. With 75,000 attendees, longtime fans, newbies, and spectators helped honor the convention’s 40th anniversary in historic ways.
Dragon Con matches donations up to $150,000 during the five-day event, and this year the convention and its community contributed over $360,000 to Hope Atlanta. The giving didn’t stop there. Through a book drive inspired by the recent passing of Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library, they also collected more than 5,000 books for the Georgia Public Library Service and Fulton County Library System. The convention also broke records through the Robert A. Heinlein “Pay It Forward” Blood Drive, conducted by LifeSouth, producing more than 4,000 donors. Those donations will support patients at more than 25 Atlanta-area hospitals plus 200 hospitals and emergency service organizations across the Southeast.
Dragon Con x Hope Atlanta
Dragon Con has long supported charitable causes. In 2012, in response to Hurricane Katrina and to support those impacted by the disaster, the convention began focusing its fundraising efforts – choosing to select one partner organization each year. Since then, it has raised $2.5 million for nonprofits and charities.
For its 40th anniversary, Dragon Con selected Hope Atlanta as its 2026 official charity partner. The partnership kicked off well before the convention started. Earlier this year, Dragon Con supporters donated hundreds of pounds of essential items to benefit Hope Atlanta clients. Then, in May, Dragon Con’s team of Superheroes, including members, volunteers, and staff, led a day of service, packing snack packs and essential-item kits for Hope Atlanta clients residing at The Melody. Vivien Dumford, Hope Atlanta’s Director of Corporate Relations, said, “It has been a joy and an honor to partner with the Dragon Con community including the leadership team, the Superheroes, and the fans, and to watch them go above and beyond to support our unhoused neighbors.” Funds raised during Dragon Con will directly support Hope Atlanta’s work to prevent and end homelessness.
To view highlights from the Dragon Con x Hope Atlanta partnership, visit Hope Atlanta’s Instagram.
To learn more about Hope Atlanta’s mission and work, visit hopeatlanta.org.
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