Child's Play 2006

[molo]

THIS IS NOT GOING YET. I.E. DON'T DONATE UNTIL IT STARTS.* ALSO, PLEASE READ BEFORE VOTING

That's right, it's coming up on that time of year again. Child's Play, that cool charity that brings games, books, and toys to sick kids during the Christmas season, is about to start up again. Last year, around 30 forum members raised over US$1,000 - these forums are huge, so this year it would be amazing if we could pass $2,000! Based on the past few years, donations should open up on the first of November and run for five weeks; start planning ahead now if you're interested. This is an amazing charity, and as such it also happens to be a tax benefit (in case you're on the fence).

As before, you can donate in multiple ways. The most common method on these forums is actually direct PayPal donations, but purchasing and delivering a gift from the individual hospital wishlists is strongly encouraged. We won't might be collecting money, but like last year we will be using the community donation tracker to keep a running tally.

I have added a poll to this thread to gauge whether people who are going to make a donation to Child's Play are interested in a lump donation in the name of the community. Before answering, keep in mind the extra transaction means Paypal will charge an additional fee, which is money that ought to be going to making sick kids happy.

Keep in mind donations run for 5 weeks - if you can't donate now but get paid in a few weeks, you're free to do so then.

The following hospitals participated as of last year; more are likely this year:

Canada
IWK Children's Health Centre (Nova Scotia)
Toronto Sick Kids' Hospital

United Kingdom
Alder Hey Children's Hospital (Liverpool)

United States
Children's Hospital Denver
Children's Hospital Oakland
Children's Hospital Midwest
Children's Mercy Hospital (Kansas City)
Children's National Medical (Washington DC)
Children's Specialized Hospital (New Jersey)
Kapi'olani Children's Hospital (Hawai'i)
Montefiore Children's Hospital (New York)
Nebraska Medical Center
New Mexico Children's Hospital
Riley Hospital for Children (Indianapolis)
San Diego Children's Hospital
Seattle Children's Hospital
Shand's Children's Hospital (Florida)
Texas Children's Hospital
Vanderbilt Children's Hospital (Tennessee)

* Also, don't leave your credit card number with us. We'll laugh and then get concerned that you also believe those ethiopians who have come upon a sudden inheritance.

If you've got any questions, leave them here or drop by #childsplay on irc.

[CoatedTrout]

Yay! My first this thing.

I'll definetely putting in a few quid for the cause (If I can get my bank account in time ).

Sticky?

[SquidDNA]

I would also like to take a moment to gauge interest in making a lump donation to the cause. We had a tracker last year and while it's good for getting our own engines revved PA will not recognize it (for the purposes of getting our name up there with the rest of them) because it's not completely trustworthy. If someone paypals $1000 and says "This is from the Relicnews community" then it would probably be a different story.

Upside: Possible recognition

Downside: Paypal takes another cut.
Less personal that ordering specific things from wishlists.

The "whoo go us" isn't really the point, obviously, but I thought I would bring it up anyway. I think the community tracker we had in place last year spurs us on sufficiently.

[Cable]

I'll chip in some coin when I have some money.

[Moe]

Will donate towards the lump sum.

[molo]

I personally don't care if we're 'officially listed' as a donor. The community tracker is more of a way for us to show off our generosity than anything else.

[Gazbeans]

Yep,shall be donating some coinage when i get paid the middle of this month.

[Tiresias]

yeah I'll chip in when possible

[Verrin]

I have intentions of donating to Sick Kids in Toronto due to my strong ties with the hospital. Just let me know how we'll be donating this year.

[Mac_Bug]

I know alot of people claim to be poor, but most my age wouldn't hesitate to blow a dollar on the vending machine. If you could avoid that between now and Christmas, it's enough mullah to get somehing on Amazon with free shipping.

[General Nuke Em]

Community lump sum sounds cool.

[hiddensmoke]

I wouldn't mind throwing around some cash for the cause. Maybe a couple hundred? Idonno I'm a teen. But I do hold on to all my money and have been holding out for that game that will rock the world, and a particular rifle I've been wanting but I wouldn't mind using it on a bunch of kids as long as I know it will actually make it to the kids.

- hidden, in a sad but donatey mood

[molo]

Again, I think we should donate individually - no money is lost to PayPal (unless you donate that way), and you choose the gift, so if you hate consoles you can donate a book or movie or something.

[NovaBurn]

I'm up for whatever works out the best whilest telling paypal to go fuck itself.

[GothicHorror]

sounds like a great cause molo, definately gonna donate.

i dont think we should make a community donation, every penny should be going to the sick kids, not to paypal. I'm not bothered about seeing the forums name on a list.

[Elixir]

I'll be donating again, let me know what type of payment you guys decide upon.

[the_sidewinder]

We better get lots of donations this year, I am too poor to pull off another $100 of donations this year.

[SquidDNA]

Well, I wouldn't mind being the money man for a collection but I'm not really going to commit to that unless we can gauge how many people are going to be up for the lumping.

Again, it's not terribly efficient. Paypal will be eating some of the money that ought to be going to making sick kids happy.

[ionfish]

Don't really care about recognition, but it would be nice to know how much we give as a community.

[molo]

Just to clarify, if you voted 'yes' you're choosing that a designated community member collect money and donate it in one lump sum to Child's Play.

This lets PayPal take a three percent cut twice, meaning that four to five percent of the total donation lines some guy's pockets instead of helping kids.

[SquidDNA]

Was that unclear previously or are you just trying to guilt people who voted yes?

[molo]

It was semi-unclear, and cj edited the poll. Also, guilt. ;(

To whomever just left us your credit card in the donation tracker... don't DO that! That's not what it's for. And even if it was, the charity does not start until November. Thank you for your intentions and generosity, though.

[SquidDNA]

Yoink!

[ceejayoz]

I was tempted!

[Capytan]

I'll probably donate, not some paypal or anything, nor cold hard cash, but a nice game or two for the kids (age restricts the credit card ) for the 360 or something. You gotta love UPS

[snrjefe]

I'd be much more likely to donate to a lump sum community donation, since if it weren't for this community, I probably wouldn't know about the event. I think this forum has every right to promote its donations as what if our example leads others to do the same.

[SquidDNA]

Actually shopping the paypal wishlists of hospitals in your area is much cooler-- I got a handwritten thank you from the staff of the hospital I donated to. Of course, Amazon now thinks I'm interested in buying every new Spanish language children's book that comes out. A lot of them are asking for books-- if you don't want to or can't spend $40 on a game, spend $10 or $15 on a couple of books.

As it is I think I'm probably not going to be a treasurer for a community donation-- please make individual paypal donations and we'll use the tracker again just to monitor our collective progress.

[molo]

For the sake of simplicity and security, like Squid says, we probably ought to stick with individual donations.

[Xypher]

Child's Play 2006 has just begun. Tycho updated the website today.
http://www.childsplaycharity.org/

[Mac_Bug]

Two weeks ago I got a letter from the hospital I donated to last year asking for more donations. That kind of put me off actually.

[molo]

Donate to a different hospital, then.

[Mac_Bug]

LOL I'll donate, been purposely been drinking water at work and avoiding soda pop.

[molo]

Peeling this off into a new announcement thread.