Hero org on fund-raising tear

The Hero Initiative continues to crank up its efforts on behalf of senior comics creators in financial need, announcing FOUR recent fund-raising programs.

* First up, the org has teamed up with grocery stores in California, Nevada and Illinois to let people donate part of their club card purchases.

Simply sign up your grocery card from Ralphs, Food 4 Less, Cala Foods or Bell Foods at this site and a portion of what you buy at those stores through Nov. 7 will be donated to the Hero Initiative. (When signing up, enter the org’s nonprofit organization number or NPO of 80680; it’ll show up as benefiting the Hero Initiative’s previous name, A Commitment To Our Roots.)

Signing up also makes you eligible to win an Ultimate Spider-Man #100 Project hardcover book signed by Stan Lee. A number of local comic stores also are offering to everyone who signs up a free comicbook and a chance at winning even more stuff. Full list of participating stores can be found at the Hero Initiative's site.

* The Hero Initiative also is auctioning on eBay a prop shirt from this past Sunday’s comic-themed episode of Showtime’s “Dexter.” The episode featured appearances by comics creators Dan Wickline and Tone Rodriguez, one of whom was killed while wearing the blood-splattered prop.

* Next is the Hero Library, a collection of 52 graphic novels with original sketches that will be auctioned off one per week on eBay (use this link to search) starting Nov. 1. The first book is the hardcover edition of “Tom Strong, Vol. 4,” with a sketch by Jerry Ordway.

* Lastly, a new site called Bid Kahuna has teamed up with Comic Art Fans to benefit the org. The site challenges its members to guess the final bid amount on various collectibles auctions, with each month’s winner earning the title of “Bid Kahuna” and some prizes. At the close of each Hero Initiative Prize Challenge at BidKahuna, ComicArtFans.com will donate a portion their revenue to The Hero Initiative.