Child's Play Receives $1 Million in Donations

It was revealed today that the Child’s Play charity has manged to raise over $1 million worth of donated games, toys and books in 2009. The charity hopes to raise that total to over $1.4 million by the end of the year for the benefit of over 70 hospitals worldwide.

“With so many people out of work, we’ve been amazed at the huge response this year,” explains Kristin Lindsay, Project Manager, Child's Play. “The game community is really digging deep and we’re on track for a record breaking year.”

Since it began in 2003, Child’s Play has raised more than $5 million dollars in toys, games and cash for hospitalized kids. It's not limited to the U.S. either, as Child’s Play helps hospitals in the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Egypt too.

And in related Child's Play news, BioWare today announced the release of Gift of the Yeti on Facebook, where players deliver Santa’s gifts and receive a $10 discount off of the purchase of Dragon Age: Origins.  The Facebook game will encourage you to invite others to participate and support the Child’s Play organization, to which BioWare will donate up to $10,000.

“Gift of the Yeti is BioWare’s digital holiday card to its fans. We use social networking as a powerful tool to connect meaningfully with our tremendous fan community,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder of BioWare and the Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group at EA. “Gift of the Yeti is a fun, engaging holiday present from BioWare to our fans, the first in a series of compelling social experiences from BioWare Labs.”

"Child's Play draws the bulk of our support from video gamers and the games industry, and we are honored to be part of BioWare’s Gift of the Yeti campaign,” added Lindsay.  “Now gamers can help support pediatric hospitals in the U.S., Canada and worldwide simply by playing the game and having fun!  When gamers give back, it makes a big difference."