Green Dragon 2026 Festival Partnership Exceeds Expectation - 2026 Festival
Community partnership · Knoxville, TN · April 2026
A gaming community raised funds for Sierra Leone Education.
55 tabletop RPG players gathered in a fantasy village in the Smoky Mountains and changed lives halfway around the world.
-
$8,600 Total raised, 2026
-
55 Generous gamers
-
$12,800+ Raised across both years (2025 + 2026)
"I went expecting a good event. I left amazed by what a room of 55 people could do for children in Sierra Leone."
— Sylvester Renner, Green Dragon Fest, 2026
The Green Dragon Fest is not a typical gaming convention. Held at Ancient Lore Village, a 40-acre fantasy retreat nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Knoxville, Tennessee, the event gathers a small, tight-knit community of tabletop RPG enthusiasts for four days of immersive gameplay, family-style meals, and genuine human connection.
This past April, that community did something remarkable. Through charity auctions and direct donations, the 55 attendees of Green Dragon Fest 2026 raised $8,600 for Develop Africa funds that will go directly toward keeping children in school in Sierra Leone.
What struck me most was not just the auction results, impressive as they were. It was more than $2,500 in direct donations from attendees who simply opened their hearts, people who hadn't bid on a single item but who gave because they wanted to.
Green Dragon Fest presents a ceremonial donation check to Develop Africa on April 30, 2026. · Ancient Lore Village, Knoxville, TN
Where the $8,600 came from
Generosity showed up in more than one form. The auction generated excitement and high bids, but the quiet, unprompted donations told just as powerful a story.
2026 giving breakdown:
Individual auction items received bids exceeding $1,500. The most coveted items, signed copies, limited edition rulebooks, and exclusive TTRPG memorabilia reflected how much this community values what it loves.
-
Charity auction proceeds (signed books, memorabilia, limited editions): $6,080+
-
Direct donations from non-auction attendees: $2,500+
-
Total raised for Develop Africa: $8,600+
Individual auction items received bids exceeding $1,500. The most coveted items, signed copies, limited edition rulebooks, and exclusive TTRPG memorabilia reflected how much this community values what it loves.
A partnership that keeps growing
Ryan, the organizer of Green Dragon Fest, made Develop Africa a charity partner from the very first event. Two years in, the generosity of this community has only deepened.
Green Dragon Fest Year one — 2025
-
$4200+
-
The inaugural event introduced the gaming community to Develop Africa's mission. Attendees responded with warmth from the start.
Green Dragon Fest Year two — 2026
-
$8,600+
-
The community returned with deeper connections and far deeper pockets open for Sierra Leone's children.
-
Combined total: $12,800+ raised for children's education in Sierra Leone across two events from a community of 55 people who gather to play games together.
Combined total: $12,800+ raised for children's education in Sierra Leone across two events from a community of 55 people who gather to play games together. |
What this means for Sierra Leone
Every dollar raised at Green Dragon Fest goes toward Develop Africa's core mission: keeping children in school. In Sierra Leone, where poverty forces many children to drop out before completing their education, a scholarship or a set of school supplies can be the difference between a future and no future at all.
Since 2006, Develop Africa has walked alongside students like Isata, who was found selling charcoal at age 11, enrolled in school through our program, and today is continuing her vocational training. The gaming community in Knoxville doesn't know Isata's name. But their generosity is writing chapters in stories like hers.
Does your community want to make a difference?
We are actively looking for events, gaming groups, conventions, clubs, and community gatherings that want to partner with Develop Africa for charity fundraising. Whether you host 30 people or 3,000, we would love to work with you.
🎲 Events & conventions
Add a charity auction, donation drive, or fundraising session to your existing event. We'll supply materials, impact stories, and a direct giving link.
🏛️ Organizations & clubs
Gaming clubs, faith communities, civic organizations, and schools: if your group gathers regularly, there's a partnership model that fits you.
📦 Auction item donors
Have signed copies, limited editions, or experiences to donate? We can connect you with events looking for high-value auction items.
🤝 Ongoing partners
Like Ryan at Green Dragon Fest, become a recurring charity partner. Build a giving tradition your community will be proud of year after year.
Partner with Us |
Donate directly |
-
Image from the 2026 Green Dragon Fest Convention
