Chris Rankin Unveils Elf Attire to Help Foster and Adoptive Families!

by · June 20, 2018

Chris Rankin (Percy Weasley) is donning a pair of elf ears for a good cause, and it just so happens to be one that is near and dear to his heart! While the Harry Potter actor isn’t the latest member of SPEW, Rankin is, instead, asking fans to support foster and adoptive families through the non-profit program Transfiguring Adoption. (In 2016, MuggleNet interviewed Transfiguring Adoption co-founder Darren Fink, who spoke about the program and its origins with his own family.)

Rankin, who was adopted as an infant, was joined by his girlfriend, Vanessa Beecroft, in a video unveiling of Transfiguring Adoption’s Elf Squad Kits, which are full of merchandise for members of Transfiguring Adoption’s Elf Squad. The Elf Squad started as a grassroots movement of Harry Potter fans to complete projects that benefit foster and adoptive families. One of last year’s projects was a nightlight collection drive, helping foster agencies to provide nightlights to children with night terrors.

Darren Fink discussed how the nightlight drive positively impacted one teenager in particular.

Transfiguring Adoption actually received an email shortly following the nightlight drive. A foster mom explained that she [had] just had a teenage boy move into her home. He was embarrassed close to bedtime to tell his new foster mom that he was afraid of the dark. Because of the nightlight donation she received, she was able to quickly assure him not to be embarrassed and that a group of people who cared about him wanted his room to have a nightlight to help him feel safe in a new home. Our Elf Squad made that boy feel ‘normal’ that night and helped him to sleep during the first night, a rough situation. That’s powerful.

Rankin additionally expressed his support for Transfiguring Adoption.

They are amazing people doing amazing things, and I’m sure you are able to help them in some shape, way, or form. Become a member of the Elf Squad. It is a great cause to be a part of.

If you are interested in becoming members of the Elf Squad, you can purchase your own membership kit from the Transfiguring Adoption store. Transfiguring Adoption is also looking for those interested in starting local chapters of the Elf Squad, and an application to do so can be found here.

You can watch Rankin’s video and read the full press release from Transfiguring Adoption below!

 

 

Press Release

July 20, 2018 [sic]

Chris Rankin (aka Percy Weasley from the Harry Potter films) and Vanessa, Chris’ girlfriend, are seen in a video wearing elf ears on social media asking people to help foster and adoptive families through nonprofit program, Transfiguring Adoption.

The unboxing video was created to highlight Transfiguring Adoption’s Elf Squad Kits. The kits are full of merchandise, which any fan of Chris’ work and the adjoining fandom are sure to enjoy. The kits themselves are one way in which Transfiguring Adoption gives the public a chance to help foster and adoptive families.

“I’m very proud to be a part of Transfiguring Adoption. Adoption as been a big part of my life - I’ve blogged about it. I was adopted when I was a little baby,” Chris states to viewers during his video.

Transfiguring Adoption as a whole seeks to resource foster and adoptive parents to help children succeed. They have created tools for caregivers, such as a discussion guide which utilizes The Sorcerer’s Stone to assist caregivers in beginning healthy conversations about past trauma with foster and adopted children.

Transfiguring Adoption’s Elf Squad is a grassroots movement begun by Harry Potter fans. The group seeks to create projects which will better help foster/adoptive parents nurture children from traumatic backgrounds. Last year the Elf Squad was able to complete several projects, such as donating night lights to foster agencies to help children with night-time terrors.

“Transfiguring Adoption actually received an E-mail shortly following the night light drive,” said Darren Fink, co-founder of Transfiguring Adoption. “A foster mom explained that she just had a teenage boy move into her home. He was embarrassed close to bedtime to tell his new foster mom that he was afraid of the dark. Because of the nightlight donation she received, she was able to quickly assure him not to be embarrassed and that a group of people who cared about him wanted his room to have a night light to help him feel safe in a new home. Our Elf Squad made that boy feel ‘normal,’ that night and helped him to sleep during the first night, a rough situation. That’s powerful.”

“If you haven’t heard of Transfiguring Adoption before, you have now,” Chris states to viewers, “They are amazing people doing amazing things and I’m sure you are able to help them in some shape, way, or form. Become a member of the Elf Squad, it is a great cause to be a part of…”

“Or if you can’t do that, share their social media… make it go viral,” Vanessa interjects during the video.

“Folks can go to our website and order a kit under our “store,” heading on the website,” Darren explains to us, “We are also looking for folks who want to begin local Elf Squad chapters in their town. In a nutshell they are half social club, usually filled with Potter fans, and half activist group striving to help families. There is an application on our website for anyone interested under the “Elf Squad,” section.”

Transfiguring Adoption’s website is: www.transfiguringadoption.com. Fink tells us that while the group is on many social media platforms, they tend to focus on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. (@TransfigurAdopt)

For more information about Transfiguring Adoption, you can visit their website here. They also maintain social media presences on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.