Child's Play 2005 Launch

It's that time of year again! Child's Play 2005 is underway. Child's Play is a charity run every year by Penny Arcade, the well-known online gaming comic created by Gabe and Tycho. Child's Play is your chance to give to the proto-geeks of the world who not only might not have the chance to play games otherwise, but find themselves sick in a hospital during the Holiday season. Child's Play gives money, games, and toys to children's hospitals in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.. Gabe's kickoff post was put up yesterday on the site. The Child's Play site itself is chok full of information, including a F.A.Q., letters from former patients who have been touched by games in hospice, and an order form for tickets to the second annual Child's Play charity dinner. This last is a swanky shindig with a silent auction, at which you can bid on one-of-a-kind opportunities like a tour of Bungie's studios or the chance to be in a Penny Arcade comic. Most important, though, are the links on the front page of the site to the various Amazon.com wishlists. There, you can purchase a book, game, or toy to have sent to a deserving kid at one of the participating hospitals. These folks are our folks, and if you have anything to give this is the place to do it. Thanks.

Comments

memories

[sedyn]

When I was younger I was a patient at one of the hospitals that is on the list. At the time, I found it odd that they had a gameboy for me to play just before surgery. It's one of the few memories I have of the day (other than waking up while I was still bleeding heavily, but that sticks with a person).

Now to determine how much money to donate to it...

As a side note, anyone know anything about get well gamers? They seem to be asking for non-monitary donations, but as I recall, last year Gabe said they weren't allowed to give already used stuff (I could be wrong on this).

Gifts of Substance not Fluff

[queenb**ch]

I was badly burned as child and was helped greatly by the Shriner's, Easter Seals, and St Jude's. This was all treament that parents would have been unable to afford on their own. While I find it touching that you want to give games to kiddies, I think it would be far more beneficial to make donations to pay for actual treatment. The games, toys, etc. are not a life and limb kind of thing. In many cases, the treatment is. I know that it certainly was for me. The doctors at our local hospital wanted to amputate my left hand and part of my arm because I was so severely burned. Yet I sit here, today, typing with both hands thanks to the help we got from people who specalize in treating children with injuries like mine.

I'd also like to remind everyone to give blood at this time year. It's something that many of the children need as they undergo surgery and its something that's normally in very short supply this time of year.

Probably not a popular sentiment and I'll probably be modded as a Troll.

2 cents,

Queen B.

Re:Gifts of Substance not Fluff

[Declarent]

I know it's just human nature, but not every endeavor can target every solution. This is something that does good, and works, do we really need to criticize it because it's not filling every other need at the same time?

There are tons of charities that do what you describe, and that helped you out. Does that mean it's wrong to add some additional charity on top of that to help restore some childhood as well as health?

In addition, this type of donation resonates with gamers, I doubt they could pull anything near this level of donation out by simply collecting money for healthcare like so many other institutions.

I support both the Shriners and Child's Play because they each provide for distinctly different parts of a child's wellbeing.