Out friends at Rancho Obi-Wan joined forces with George Mark Children’s House on 2nd May for the fourth George Mark’s Star Wars Day, bringing the forces of good and evil to George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro, California and with it a lot of joy for everyone who attended. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, Rancho ran a mini exhibit as well as working with the Golden Gate Garrison of the 501st Legion and the Endor Base of the Rebel Legion.
On May 2, Rancho Obi-Wan brought the Force to life at George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro, California —a pediatric palliative care facility where imagination and joy are part of nurturing a meaningful quality of life for children and their families. In honor of Revenge of the Sith’s 20th anniversary, Rancho Obi-Wan curated a themed mini-exhibit filled with collectibles, toys, and promotional gems from their legendary collection.
Docent Dwayne Smith welcomed families and guests-over 100 in total-to explore the display and celebrate the saga. Rancho Obi-Wan also contributed to toy giveaways for young Star Wars fans.
“For us, Rancho Obi-Wan has always been about helping to build a sense of community among fans of all ages,” said Anne Neumann, President and CEO of Rancho Obi-Wan. “We help spread the fun and inspiration that Star Wars provides.” Executive Director and Founder Steve Sansweet added, “We hope we brought some joy to George Mark Children’s House and helped create memories the families will hold close by sharing the love of a galaxy far, far away.”
Guests also enjoyed terrarium-making, cosmic crafts, and giggle-worthy caricatures, while toy donations from Starlight Children’s Foundation and Rancho Obi-Wan made the day even more special.
“It’s hard to put into words what it means to see the joy this day brings to our families,” said Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children’s House. “The Force was strong, but even stronger was the sense of community and love.”
The galaxy truly came alive as iconic characters stepped onto the George Mark campus.
Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Stormtroopers, General Leia, and more showed up in full gear courtesy of the incredible Golden Gate Garrison of the 501st Legion and the Endor Base of the Rebel Legion. To top it off, droids R2-D2 and Chopper rolled through the crowd thanks to the Bay Area Droid Builders, thrilling children and parents alike.
“Our mission is to provide quality of life for children with serious medical conditions,” said Kyle Amsler, Child Life Specialist at George Mark. “A day like this is all about joy — giving families a chance to create extraordinary memories together, especially when they get to meet magical characters from a galaxy far, far away.”
“As an avid Star Wars fan, I’ve long admired Steve Sansweet’s dedication to the fan community and his incredible accomplishment in establishing Rancho Obi-Wan,” said Ricky Resurreccion, Marketing & Events Coordinator. “Having Rancho Obi-Wan at our event brought the spirit of the galaxy to life for so many of our George Mark families. One mother came up to me with tears in her eyes and thanked us for giving her daughter a day that felt truly magical. It was a powerful reminder that what we’re doing goes far beyond fun—it’s about creating meaningful, joyful moments that families will hold close. That kind of response is the greatest validation of why this work matters.”
Now in its fourth year, George Mark’s Star Wars Day is more than an event-it’s a Force-filled tradition, and a reminder that hope and imagination still thrive here on Earth.
