King William’s College transforms into Hogwarts for a cause

On a magic-filled Sunday in July, throngs of Muggles boarded the Knight Bus and the Hogwarts Express to King William’s College near Castletown on the Isle of Man to take part in a fundraiser benefiting the charitable foundation Junior Achievement Isle of Man (JAIOM).

The charity is part of a worldwide organization that strives to teach young people how to improve self-esteem, develop work and life skills, such as money management and team building, and reaches out to nearly 5,000 students a year in England alone. To fund the programs provided, fundraisers are held throughout each year and are run by volunteers from diverse backgrounds. JAIOM hosted the first Harry Potter themed event last year, and from the video they posted on Youtube, it looks like everyone had a blast!

This year’s event boasted more than events such as wand-making, experiencing magical creatures and potions classes, and being sorted by the Sorting Hat, but also gave visitors a chance to get into the Harry Potter spirit by dressing up as their favorite character from the books and movies.

Sue Cook, Chief Executive of Junior Achievement Isle of Man, felt the theme contributed to the success of the event, the second Harry Potter themed event since 2012. “Thanks to the tremendous enthusiasm and hard work of the many volunteers who came forward to help and all the team at Junior Achievement every visitor entered a fantastical world and enjoyed a truly magical experience.”

Many fans raise funds for charities in the name of their favorite celebrity or fandom. What charity would you choose to support and why? Tell us in the comments below!

To learn more about JAIOM and how you can support the program, visit their website.