Child’s Play Charity: Over 10 million for the kids!

Child’s Play charity has recently crossed a major life milestone in collected funds raised for children. It was reported on their website late last week that the organization has surpassed a collective $10,000,000 raised for charity since its inception in 2003. In addition to this massive achievement, Child’s Play has earned upwards of 1.5 million dollars this year alone, and thanks to a record fundraising pace in 2011, the group looks to surpass 2 million dollars by years end.

Child’s Play was founded in 2003 by Penny Arcade creators Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. The organization raises money each year to provide children’s hospices across the globe with toys, games, and books, improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of sick children. Established as a challenge of sorts to Penny Arcade readers to become active and make a difference in a world that sometimes vilifies gamers and their hobby, Child’s Play has become exponentially more successful than anyone could have initially predicted.

Child’s Play receives boosts from outside fundraising events, many of which occur on a yearly basis. One of the organization’s most well known fundraisers is Loading Ready Run’s Desert Bus for Hope marathon, which happens every November. Desert Bus for Hope raised a massive $380,335.01 this year alone for Child’s Play, and collectively have earned over $820,000 for Child’s Play in its five years. Other events, such at the Bay Area’s Ümloud! and Chicago’s Loot Drop have raised funds for Child’s Play while offering interactive concerts for donators to enjoy.

The incredible success that the Child’s Play Charity has seen serves as a wonderful testament to gamers and the good that they are capable of. It’s exciting to see so many people doing great things for children in an age where gaming continues to struggle to receive proper acclaim and respect, and when gamers themselves are viewed as a lazy, greedy bunch. Whoever said that gamers could do no good clearly have not witnessed the beaming face of a child receiving a toy as a result of a gamer’s actions. Keep it up, everyone. There are few causes more noble than helping a child.