LEGO Systems Kicks-off Holiday Countdown, Encourages Consumers to "Use the Force" and Spread LEGO® Star Wars™ Goodwill and Cheer

ENFIELD, Conn., Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LEGO Systems, Inc. today announced www.LEGOSantaYoda.com, a fun, holiday-themed LEGO® Star Wars™ micro site featuring shareable stop-motion animation e-greetings, a contest featuring weekly prizes, holiday-themed polls and a wish list of the galaxy's hottest LEGO Star Wars products. Beginning today through December 24, 2011, LEGO Systems will donate one new LEGO toy to the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program for each LEGO Star Wars e-greeting shared, up to one million toys.

To kick-off the countdown, thousands of residents and visitors of the San Francisco Bay Area helped LEGO Master Builders to construct the world's largest LEGO Santa Yoda this past weekend. Perched alongside the Union Square ice rink and weighing nearly 4,000 pounds, LEGO Santa Yoda stood 12-feet tall with an ear span of 10-feet. Visit http://inr.synapticdigital.com/lego/legosantayoda to view a time lapse video of the project.

"Inspired by the collectible Santa Yoda minifigure found in our LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, we're excited to encourage anyone who loves the LEGO or Star Wars brands to spread holiday cheer for such a timely and deserving organization," said Michael McNally, brand relations director, LEGO Systems. "There's no doubt that the LEGO and Star Wars communities will be energized to help give back, especially with the fun, one-of-a-kind video greetings we've developed that feature the characters and humor that they anticipate and enjoy."

Create your own LEGO Star Wars Holiday Cheer and Win Weekly Prizes
To enter, fans can build a scene, stage a photo, make a stop-motion or live action video, or even draw a picture of their LEGO Star Wars minifigures and models conveying holiday spirit. Weekly winners will be selected and one grand prize winner will receive a one-of-a-kind, custom 2-foot tall LEGO Santa Yoda minifigure model, made completely out of LEGO bricks by a LEGO Master Builder. First, second and third prize packages will be awarded weekly.

For more information, visit www.LEGOSantaYoda.com.

LEGO Systems, Inc. (LSI) is the Americas (North America and Latin America) division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held firm based in Billund, Denmark. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities through high-quality, creatively educational play materials, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen:  "Only the best is good enough."  For more information, visit www.LEGO.com

TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd.  All rights reserved. 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Fiona Chan for LEGO Systems, Inc.
415-551-9625 or [email protected]

SOURCE LEGO Systems, Inc.