The Child’s Play Charity has raised millions of dollars and collected loads of toys for kids in hospitals all over the world. What started as a small effort by gamers headed by the Penny-Arcade guys has grown to a massive charitable effort with huge reach!
Here is a bit of their history:
Since 2003, we’ve set up and organized Child’s Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in our network of over 70 hospitals worldwide. Over the years, you as a community have answered the call and come together to raise millions of dollars.
Child’s Play works in two ways. With the help of hospital staff, we set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, books, and other fun stuff for kids. By clicking on a hospital location on our map, you can view that hospital’s wish list and send a gift.
Child’s Play also receives cash donations throughout the year. With those cash donations, we purchase new consoles, peripherals, games, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow for children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.
SEATTLE – Nov. 2, 2011 – Child’s Play Charity has officially begun its 2011 fundraising campaign, having already received more than $450,000. This year’s goal is to raise $2 million.
Since the charity’s establishment in 2003, it has distributed more than $9 million in donations from the videogame community to entertain hospitalized children across the globe.
The annual Child’s Play charity auction will take place on Thursday, Dec. 8th, 2011 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Tickets can be purchased at www.childsplaycharity.org. Passes will cost $145 per person and $5,000 for table sponsors.
“We are very excited to begin another year of Child’s Play and once again show the world that the video game community is altruistic as well as compassionate,” said Kristin Lindsay, Child’s Play. “Since Child’s Play inception we have constantly been surprised by the generosity in both time and money of the community.”
Those wishing to contribute to Child’s Play can:
• Host a fundraising event http://childsplaycharity.org/events
• Buy or donate an item on the Child’s Play eBay Giving Works page
• Give directly via PayPal
• Become a corporate sponsor, email Kristin Lindsay
• Mail a check to Child’s Play, 123 NW 36th Street Suite 210, Seattle, WA 98107
• Text the keyword GAMERS to 50555 to make a $5 donation
This is an amazing charity that has done great things for those least able to provide for themselves – our children.
For more information check out Child Play Charity!