Child’s Play Charity
December 12th, 2006
Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins thought that gamers got a bad rap. So to combat the stereotype of gamers as violent and antisocial, the two founders of the popular webcomic Penny Arcade encouraged their minions to band together in 2003 through their Seattle-based charity, Child’s Play.
The result? Over a million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children’s hospitals across North America.
How does it work? With the help of hospital staff, Child’s Play sets up gift wishlists of video games, toys and movies on Amazon.com, and the hospital is added to the map on the Child’s Play website.
Visitors to the website can click through to the lists and buy items for hospitals in whichever region they choose. Purchases ship directly from Amazon to the hospital, and 100% of all PayPal donations pay for things like pediatric research and facility improvements.
In 2006, the charity added four hospitals in the United States, two in Australia, and even one in Egypt!
Whether or not you’re into the world of video gaming, maybe this charity effort is something you and your teenaged gamer can finally agree on! Click through and give a kid something to smile about.
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