Child's Play

Last week we announced reaching (and exceeding) our $2,000,000 goal- an incredible milestone for the gaming community at large. This week we counted, double and triple checked and couldn’t believe our eyes.

Are you sitting down?

Our current fundraising total for 2011 is $2,960,000, making this our BEST YEAR EVER! We are absolutely blown away by your generosity-  this year has obliterated last year’s fundraising total of $2.3 million. In 2003, generous donors sent Seattle Children’s hospital hundreds of games and toys. Who would have thought seven years later we would be sending $2.96 million (and counting) in donations to 80 hospitals worldwide? But don’t thank us. Thank you, the community- those sending donations through Amazon and Paypal, run fundraisers and spread the word. You make such an incredible impact in the lives of kids and their families. For instance, Dave Berry, a contributor and dad, got in touch with us this week to share his story:

‘Since the inception of Child’s Play, I’ve donated every year—long before I became a father. I’ve been an avid gamer all my life, and have given my daughter the “gamer” bug. When she was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of 2011, just after my last donation to Child’s Play, it became apparent that I would soon see the charity from the other side. Our year-long struggle with her treatments and frequent hospital stays have been enriched by the time we’re able to spend with her playing games in the hospital just as we would at home (only with better games and a larger selection). Our local children’s hospital has quite obviously benefited significantly from these donations, and this year I donated more than any year previous. Having seen the “other side” of the effect of the donations, I can think of no better gift to children who need every last bit of enjoyment in otherwise miserable situations.’

$2.96 million dollars towards helping dads like Dave bring a smile to the face of their child. Towards helping a brother or sister reconnect with their hospitalized sibling. Towards making a true difference in the life of a sick kid.

Happy Holidays, everyone! We have some very exciting news. Thanks to our wonderful community events, our annual dinner auction, support from our corporate sponsors and gamers around the world, we have reached our 2011 goal of $2,000,000! Not only did we meet it, but we crushed it by over $200,000 with a few weeks left of our drive! Thanks to you, kids all over the world will have to think a little bit less about being sick and get to think a little bit more about being a kid.

As our hospital network grows, so has your generosity.The consoles, games, toys and books every year are met with profound thanks from the hospitals we benefit, and it’s all because of the kindness of the gaming community. Every day we read stories of how Child’s Play impacts actual lives, and I’d like to encourage you to take a minute and read about how these donations help kids and families through the scary, painful, and overwhelming experience of illness and hospitalization.

It goes without saying, but we’re on track yet again to surpass our previous year’s $2.3 million record. There’s still time to make a donation and brighten the holidays for a sick child. Donate through Paypal, choose an item from a wishlist on Amazon, or simply pick up your phone and text to donate $5- each and every contribution makes a profound impact.

With the annual Child’s Play dinner auction setting new records last week, we are so very close to filling up the 2011 charity bar, with a total so far of $1,950,000! Incredible! Thank you so much to all who have supported the drive this year.

We’re often asked which of our partner hospitals could use some extra support.  This week, we’re honored to introduce you to The Nebraska Medical Center. This facility is the largest healthcare center in the state, and the teaching hospital for Nebraska State University. They treated nearly half a million patients last year, many of whom were coming in to the hospital’s noted pediatric organ transplant program.  It doesn’t take a huge donation to help these patients! A single game or book from Nebraska Medical’s wish list will be enjoyed by hundreds of children, and make a huge difference for them. Please consider The Nebraska Medical Center for a donation this week through Child’s Play!