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.

Re:Open-books charity?

[Southpaw018]

It's near 100%. You buy the stuff on special wishlists at Amazon, and it's shipped directly to the hospital.

Re:Open-books charity?

[MauMan]

Well according to their FAQ 100% of the money given directly to them is goes through, however it does not say what Amazon's cut, if any, is other than their normal profit.

A: We have partnered with Amazon.com, which hosts a series of "Wish Lists" stocked with toys the hospitals have requested, as well as age appropriate videogames and game systems selected by Child's Play. Simply choose the hospital nearest you from our interactive map at http://www.childsplaycharity.org/ [childsplaycharity.org] and the toys you purchase will be delivered directly. We also accept cash donations via Paypal to [e-mail], which will be split evenly among the hospitals in this year's event. There are no "administrative fees" or other hidden costs associated with giving to Child's Play - every cent is passed on.

Re:Open-books charity?

[fallen1]

Yeah, right on the front page of the site:

Created by Penny Arcade, no "Administrative Fees" or other nonsense is collected; all gifts and donations go directly to the hospitals for distribution to sick kids.

Sheesh, at least click on the link for the charity and do some reading before asking inflammatory questions. I know that there are a lot of scammers preying on the "for the children" line for charities (not to mention politics) but Gabe and Tycho have never numbered among them.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Open-books charity?

[Zathrus]

it does not say what Amazon's cut, if any, is other than their normal profit.

Amazon's cut is exactly that -- whatever profit they make on the sale of items. Plus the inevitable "shipping and handling" fees (if any).

The cash donations go 100% to the hospitals. Gabe, Tycho, and various others volunteer their time to do whatever administrivia is needed. But by having virtually all of it done through Amazon, and shipped directly to the hospitals there really isn't much (the first year they did this they had everything shipped to them... they had to get storage facilities and get a fleet of volunteers to move stuff; but even then it was 100% contribution, with them paying/getting donated the overhead).

Re:Question not on FAQ Page -

[audacity242]

Having done recreation therapy at a large hospital, and been in charge of numerous things you'd expect to get stolen (VHS tapes, DVDs, craft supplies, a GameGear and games, etc.), you'd be surprised at how RARELY things get stolen.

Most of the stuff stolen from our hospital was stuff that wasn't going to adversely affect patients -- a package of gauze here and there, the staff microwave, etc.

-Jenn

Hahaha!

[dmatos]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php?date=2003-12- 03 [penny-arcade.com]