Child's Play 2009

[MoonSka]

(Figured this could go either here or in off-topic, MOD please move if this is the inappropriate forum. I realize that CheapyD and CAG do this on a larger scale, but I'm a big fan of this charity and couldn't help but start to get the word out)

Just a heads up for everyone. The annual Child's Play charity, which was started back in 2003 by the creators of Penny Arcade, is up and running for 2009. The charity is a wonderful way for gamers to give to sick kids in hospitals. From the main page:

Here’s the deal.
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. In five short years, you as a community have answered the call and come together to raise millions of dollars.
That was awesome. You guys have proven over and over again that you are an overwhelming force, and you really came through and made a real difference to the millions of kids that children’s hospitals care for each year. So we’re doing it again this year, only this time we’ve expanded Child’s Play to more hospitals around US and the globe so you can send toys to a hospital a little closer to home.
Child’s Play works the same as last year. With the help of hospital staff, we’ve set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, and movies. You can go to each hospital’s list and buy a toy, and that toy will be sent to the hospital. Some of these kids are in pretty bad shape. Imagine being stuck alone in a hospital over the holidays, getting something from a fellow gamer would really raise their spirits. Some of the stuff the hospital will give away for kids to keep, while other gifts (like consoles) will be kept by the hospital for patients to use throughout the year.
We are arguably the largest community of gamers on the internet. The important word there being community. We are not a faceless corporation and you are not just a number tracked by a database and then relayed to hungry advertisers. You guys have proven yourselves to be a powerful force when stirred into action. Here is your opportunity to use that power to do some real good.

You can make a direct PayPal donation or visit Amazon.com to check out specific wish lists from hospital around the US or the world. I encourage anyone who reads this to consider donating something if you can.

http://www.childsplaycharity.org/

 

[QiG]

Kudos for bringing it up. I almost missed it last year due to a combination of firefox/adblock plus and gleeming over the stickies during my regular browsing (I don't think I was the only one).

We all are here because we enjoy our hobby and this is a great way for us to contribute to a good cause and extend some goodwill outside our community here. It really is impressive to see everyone come together on this and have success with it every year. Looking forward to seeing us smash our goal again.