For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Daniella Jacobsen
Daniella@projectpurple.org
(203) 714-6052
MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Putnam’s Wonderland Comics Celebrates Third Annual Charity Event Supporting Project Purple This June
Month-Long Comic Shop Sale Combines Discounts, Community, and Fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness
Putnam, CT – Project Purple, a national nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer, is proud to partner with Team Zombie Leader and Wonderland Comics for their Third Annual Charitable Sale taking place throughout the month of June, 2026. This milestone event will benefit Project Purple in honor of Team Zombie Leader founder Todd Zavorskas’s mother, Lorraine, who passed away from Stage IV pancreatic cancer.
A staple of the local comic and collector community, this month-long fundraising event transforms the beloved Wonderland Comics into a hub of deals, fandom, and philanthropy. Shoppers can enjoy exclusive discounts on comics and collectibles, with a portion of proceeds supporting Project Purple’s pancreatic cancer research initiatives and Patient Financial Aid Program.
“The goal is simple,” Zavorskas says. “We bring together a love of fandom and a commitment to giving back, so people can enjoy what they love while making a meaningful impact.”
Event Highlights
This year’s Third Annual Charitable Sale will feature various sales that benefit Project Purple
- 10% of all new and back issue comic and magazine Sales
- Save 50% on all back issue comics and magazines less than $20 with no minimum purchase
- Sales and donations include in-store and online purchases
Support small businesses and a local neighborhood comic shop for a great cause.
About Todd Zavorskas and Team Zombie Leader
Todd Zavorskas is an active member of the New England cosplay and comic convention community and the founder and leader of Team Zombie Leader. With more than 31 years of charity fundraising experience, he has raised over $413,785 for various national and local charities, including a $10,000 contribution and recognition by the 2022 New England Patriots Myra Kraft Community MVP award.
Todd’s fundraising work has supported a wide range of causes, from blood cancer and children’s charities to community programs. In recent years, he has focused his efforts on pancreatic cancer research, inspired by the loss of his mother, Lorraine, to Stage IV pancreatic cancer in 2010.
“I just want to make my mom proud,” Todd says. “My friends who knew her often say, ‘She’s watching and sees everything you’re doing.’”
After her passing, Todd adapted the same fundraising strategies he had used for other causes to support pancreatic cancer research. To date, he has raised over $107,819 specifically for pancreatic cancer and recently partnered with Project Purple, with a goal to surpass $250,000 in his mother’s memory.
Plan Your Visit
Location: Wonderland Comics, 160 Main St., Putnam, CT 06260
Dates: Throughout the month of June, 2026
Shoppers can visit the store during normal business hours to take advantage of the sale and support Project Purple. A portion of proceeds from comics and magazines benefits pancreatic cancer research and patient aid.
If you’re unable to stop by the sale, you can still support Todd’s fundraising efforts by making a donation at charity.pledgeit.org/team-zombie.
Other Ways to Engage With Team Zombie Leader
From this sale to future events, Team Zombie Leader engages fans year-round. Connect online through their website and social media to stay updated, see past highlights, and learn more about their charitable initiatives:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ZombieLeader – Learn more about Team Zombie Leader, upcoming events, and fundraising initiatives
- Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter – Follow for updates, cosplay highlights, and live event coverage
“I’m not rich (monetarily), but I am rich in my fundraising skills and my willingness to give my time,” Todd adds. “I truly enjoy doing this; I look forward to attending events and engaging with the public.”
About Project Purple
Project Purple is a national nonprofit dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer through research, awareness, and patient support. Todd’s partnership with Project Purple allows him to extend the reach of his fundraising efforts beyond New England, connecting fans and participants across the country to a cause that is deeply personal.
Founded in 2010, Project Purple is committed to creating a world without pancreatic cancer while improving care and outcomes for patients and their families. Since its inception, the organization has funded over $5.5 million in research, with a strong emphasis on early detection initiatives such as PRECEDE, the world’s largest high-risk consortium for genetic mutations linked to pancreatic cancer.
Project Purple’s research support also includes foundational funding for Hartford HealthCare’s High Risk Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program, multiple studies at Duke University School of Medicine, and numerous other groundbreaking projects.
In addition to research, Project Purple has awarded more than $1.5 million in patient aid, assisting over 1,500 families to focus on treatment and care rather than financial stress.
For more information, visit www.projectpurple.org.
