Toys and Games Arrive at Children's Hospitals Courtesy of Gamers around the World
Child's Play 3rd Annual Toy Drive is in Full Swing, But There's Still Time to Give - and Maybe Come Home From their Benefit Dinner with an Xbox 360 Console Bundle
Seattle, WA - December 7, 2005 - In the first few weeks of its third annual online toy and game drive, Seattle-based Child's Play Charity (www.childsplaycharity.org) has raised $200,000 in cash and a vast array of games and toys for the Seattle Children's Hospital and similar hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Through Child's Play individuals in the videogame community have already purchased more than 90 brand new Nintendo GameCubes, 95 PlayStation 2 consoles, 79 Nintendo DS game systems, 153 Game Boy Advance SP game systems, 30 Xbox bundles, 26 LeapPads, 30 MP3 players and 49 DVD players plus hundreds of board games, building sets, books, videos, toys, game software and accessories and more. There is still time to go online and purchase a gift for any of the twenty hospitals partnered with Child's Play.
"Thank you for all the toys! Child's Play Charity is like a dream come true!" remarked Meghan D. Kelly, Director of the Child Life Program at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, New York.
In addition to the online toy drive Child's Play is hosting a Fundraiser Dinner Auction on December 13, 2005 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington. The semi-formal evening features a silent auction, dinner and live auction. Auction highlights include several Xbox 360 console and software bundles, iPod nanos customized with the Blizzard logo, Limited Edition Cels, tours of local developers Bungie and Wizards of the Coast, World of Warcraft collectibles, a year's supply of the guarana caffeine drink Bawls, an all expense-paid trip for two to the offices of CCP Games (maker of Ever Online) in Iceland, and an appearance in a Penny Arcade comic strip. Tickets ($100) remain on sale through December 8th.
Seattle Children's Hospital is the original beneficiary of Child's Play, which has now grown to over 20 children's hospitals. Child's Play works in conjunction with Amazon.com to create wish lists for participating hospitals. Individual donors can choose to give new items ranging from toddler toys to music CDs, videogames, game consoles and accessories. Gifts are delivered directly to hospitals in need and are tax deductible as denoted by law. Child's Play does not keep any administrative fees; all proceeds go directly to participating hospitals. For information on how to become a corporate or individual donor or how hospitals can become involved go to www.childsplaycharity.org.
About Child's Play
Child's Play is a non-profit organization begun in 2003 by Gabe and Tycho, the creators of the Penny Arcade comic strip, as a way to help sick children and show the world the softer side of people who play videogames. Through the generosity of gamers and the videogame industry, Child's Play has raised over a million dollars in toys, games and cash for sick children through an ongoing online toy drive and annual charity auction. Now in its third year, Child's Play is developing a worldwide network of beneficiary Children's Hospitals in order to brighten hospital stays for children internationally. For more information go to www.childsplaycharity.org.
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