Author J.K. Rowling will light the Empire State Building purple, blue and white in honor of 8 million children living in orphanages this week.
The ceremonial lighting represents the official colors of Lumos, a non-profit dedicated to children living in poverty founded by Rowling in 2005. The purpose of the lighting is to “help shed light on the 8 million children around the world who are needlessly separated from their families due to poverty, disability, disease and conflict and placed into institutions and so called ‘orphanages’, which significantly affect all aspects of child development and their future life chances.”
The event will take place on Thursday, April 9th at 12 p.m. and will mark the US launch of the non-profit. Rowling will be joined by Lumos Chief Executive Georgette Mulheir.