November 10, 2006
Gamers in the Habit of Giving
‘Child’s Play Charity’ Kicks Off 4th Annual
Toy and Game Drive Designed to Bring Cheer to Kids in Hospitals
The videogame community-supported Child’s Play
Charity organization has officially kicked off its fourth annual toy and game
drive at
www.childsplaycharity.org. In addition to the online drive and a charity
auction dinner, organizers are raising money through the sale of Child’s Play
t-shirts and holiday cards. One hundred percent of all proceeds go towards gifts
for the use of children in the 28 participating hospitals around the globe.
Generously supported by publishers, developers and individual gamers themselves,
Child’s Play has raised nearly 1.2 million dollars in toys, books, movies,
games, game hardware and game systems intended to brighten hospital stays for
sick children.
“There are so many gamers out there with big
hearts,” said Penny Arcade’s Robert Khoo. “The grassroots Child Play initiative
that started out in Seattle has grown now to include hospitals across the U.S.
as well as international locations from Canada to Egypt. It gives me yet another
reason to be proud to say ‘I’m a gamer.’”
The way the online toy and game drive works is
that participating hospitals post wish lists on Amazon or Dstore. Through
www.childsplaycharity.org those wishing to participate can select a specific
hospital and browse their wish list to see what fun toys and games are desired
for patients. Items include everything from Play-Doh and Scrabble to the Cars
Xbox 360 game and full Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony gaming systems. Gift
purchasers select delivery direct to the hospital in need. Alternatively, cash
donations can be made through PayPal.
In addition to fulfilling hospital wish lists,
the gamers’ charity offers t-shirts (U.S. $17.99) and will add holiday cards for
sale beginning November 15th through
www.thinkgeek.com/pennyarcade. Child’s Play also hosts a charity auction
dinner in Bellevue, Washington in which the game community donates a host of
game-related auction items for attendees to bid on. That event is scheduled to
take place this year on Wednesday, December 13th. Tickets are now on sale at
www.childsplaycharity.org.
