Child's Play beat their goal!

[Croaxleigh]

When I was checking download numbers for Depth of Heresy, I noticed this news tidbit at FileFront:

http://news.filefront.com/childs-pla...-million-goal/

For those who don't like following links and the like, here's the gist. The Child's Play charity had set a goal of $1,000,000 this year for their fundraising efforts. The grand total they brought in? $1,135,000. So not only did they meet the goal, but they significantly passed it.

It goes on to say the following:

The hospital wish lists are still online, and some have seen new items added. While we try to get lots of new games and more to the children in time for the holidays, the hospitals have a need for equipment year-round. Likewise, we will continue to accept donations through Amazon, PayPal and the mail until next year’s fundraiser kicks off.

So if people had wanted to donate in one form or another but found their finances a bit too tight, donations of various forms can be made throughout the year.

[Tseng_Fox]

I read this article and Im quite confused. This is a charity of some sort right?

but they are spending money on video games for children?

[Lord Abaddon]

Yes. Gamers help sick kids and such.

[Tseng_Fox]

No, what I mean is, how do games help sick children?

Im fine spending money on Medicine, doctors fees, treatment, equipment etc. to help them get better, but I dont see how buying them games would help since according to the article.

[Dark Angel N00b]

Happiness, enjoyment, taking your mind of the fact that your in pain and suffering.

Sure, its unorthodox but its something.

[Tseng_Fox]

I suppose that can be allowed.

[Starblade]

We're glad you approve.

I really need to get myself a credit card so I can begin donating to these kinds of things. Hopefully I'll have one in time for next year's drive.

[Nanor]

I think it's for children who are terminally ill. Either way if I was sick I'd like Crysis and other games to pass the time.

[Guilliman]

It's proven that a happy patient heals faster then an unhappy/depressed one. I can't give you a link or anything, general knowledge I think. At least my doctor keeps saying that.

[SquidDNA]

Not just kids who are terminally ill, but really any kids who are undergoing some kind of intense hospitalization at a major treatment center for the purpose.

[Croaxleigh]

Child's Play is currently associated with 50 hospitals (I think), and provides games, toys, and other such niceties to children who are hospitalized at Christmas. Basically, the thought behind it is this... the only thing worse than being majorly sick as a child is for it to happen at Christmastime, since then you often have to miss out on most of the fun of the holiday because you're 1) in the hospital, and 2) your family is spending most of their money on hospital bills instead of presents. The charity buys (or has donated via Amazon.com) presents from the childrens' wish lists, and also places more entertainment options in rooms reserved for children at the hospital (DVD players, video game systems, etc.) The in-room stuff helps with keeping the children distracted from their illness, and as mentioned can speed healing by keeping them a bit happier than they would be just lying in a bed with nothing to do.

In other words, they try to take care of some of the little things that can make a big difference which other childrens' charities can't afford to cover (because they're focusing their funds on medical expenses, research, and the like.)

[Tseng_Fox]

What do we get in return for donating? is there any advantages or incentives?

[Tiresias]

eeerm

I don't think you understand the concept of a charity.

[Trinity]

<-- you get that.

[El Russo]

Not till next year now though, I don't think. Congrats to Child's Play!

[Obtuse]

And you get to keep the icon for a whole year, makes you feel warm and fluffy. Got a nice letter from the hospital I sent stuff last year, as well. Still have it in order to prove I'm not a complete monster of a man.

[the_sidewinder]

Great to see that their goal was met, and helping them meet that goal makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

I hope that next year, my local Children's Hospital teams up with CP.

Tseng Fox, you greedy little man you. But if you must know, as an incentive, the staff give us the aforementioned icon on our profiles. We also ran a raffle this year to garner support. I won a Relic T-Shirt

[ceejayoz]

What do we get in return for donating? is there any advantages or incentives?

Have you never heard of a charitable donation before?

[The Collector]

I think he might be thinking in terms of schwag. Sorta like how we get shirts for donating blood to the Red Cross, not *literal* payoff.

But yeah, it's supposed to be a bottom-of-the-heart thing. Saving up to move out though, so I guess my charity will be deferred until I get a real job.

[rabb14]

Have you never heard of a charitable donation before?

The concept is surprisingly difficult to understand for those who are greedy or selfish.

[ionfish]

Are you some kind of Kantian?

[Someguy]

I read this article and Im quite confused. This is a charity of some sort right?

HUUUURRRRR?!!?

[Hirmetrium]

This thread should be stickied, locked, and hereby used as a reference to HILARITY.

Grats to the PA guys though. And the Video Game Developers - without them Childs Play would not have turned into what it is, and they certainly wouldn't be able to auction off tours round bungie and spaces in webcomics.

[Trizzdog]

Impressive to see Child's Play come so far. I hope it only becomes more popular, successful, and recognized in the future.

[MadCatChiken]

Grats guys! I'm glad i was able to help.

[roflmao]

Very good news.
AFAIK Child's play donates toys in general, not just video games. Am I right?

[SquidDNA]

In past years I've bought books.

[Croaxleigh]

Heck, you can even buy crayons. The stuff in the Amazon wish lists are designed to cater to a variety of different children, as well as to stock the hospitals with stuff appropriate for pretty much all age groups. So not just video games, no.

[Tseng_Fox]

Have you never heard of a charitable donation before?

Yes, but what I mean is you might get more donations if you offer a win/win situation where you donate money to the charity, and for that you get something in return. Such as that icon or a shirt, or something relatively unexpensive, but cool.

For example: you sell special Dawn of War t-shirts. Some DoW fans would like to buy some since its about their favourite game, and the money spent on the shirts can go to the charity and the guys get their shirt. Both win.

[Noble]

I think the effectiveness of of Child's Play demonstrates the lack of necessity for material compensation.

Knick knacks and trinkets are alright, but they are usually useless pieces of junk and only serve to drain the funds of a charity.

[Tseng_Fox]

Well, they could be made very inexpensively or could be begged for off companies.

[Tiresias]

Or maybe the reward is some children in a hospital have something to lighten their lives up.

[Tseng_Fox]

Or maybe the reward is some children in a hospital have something to lighten their lives up.

Well, considering how hard it is to get money, I would think a bit more than that would be reasonable. Maybe a thank you letter from the child or something to show that they appreciate that they are getting something free that other children in hospital do not get.

[Tiresias]

If it's hard to get money I don't think anyone would blame you for not donating.

[Noble]

Your still ignoring the fact that Child's Play (among others) has done exceptionally well without piddling trinkets or thank you notes. This may be hard to believe, but some people just like to do a nice thing for someone worse off.

[Tseng_Fox]

If it's hard to get money I don't think anyone would blame you for not donating.

I didnt say it was hard for me to get money or not. Im just trying to see how charity can improve by having a better connection to the public who give them money, rather than them holding their hands out for money and running off once they get it. I like to know how much a charity connects with the public before I donate.

Your still ignoring the fact that Child's Play (among others) has done exceptionally well without piddling trinkets or thank you notes. This may be hard to believe, but some people just like to do a nice thing for someone worse off.

what? Im not denying that they are doing good. I actually do believe they are doing good.

[Tiresias]

Im just trying to see how charity can improve by having a better connection to the public who give them money, rather than them holding their hands out for money and running off once they get it. I like to know how much a charity connects with the public before I donate.

So you want to know how it helps by receiving gifts? They are giving toys, dvds and games to children in a position noone wants a child to be in. They are doing plenty well enough with over a $1000000 in donations, and I think accusing childs play as running off wwith the money is frankly insulting to those that set it up.

[Tseng_Fox]

So you want to know how it helps by receiving gifts? They are giving toys, dvds and games to children in a position noone wants a child to be in. They are doing plenty well enough with over a $1000000 in donations, and I think accusing childs play as running off wwith the money is frankly insulting to those that set it up.

*sigh* again, no. If I donated, I would want to know that I would be remembered, like all other donators, for helping out. I don't want to be a number. It dosent seem like they remember those who donate.

I think its a bit insulting to not be thought about in the least after donating money.

[Ultimatum]

Your views are rather narrow minded don't you think Tseng.

[Ramrod]

It dosent seem like they remember those who donate.

... He says after knowing about Child's Play for a grand total of two days.

[Tseng_Fox]

Your views are rather narrow minded don't you think Tseng.

Im not saying dont donate, what I'm saying is to respect those who help you. Isnt that a good moral?

For example. Some good charities are the animal charities. This is because you get to know who you are helping since they normally send letters/booklets etc. with details such as what your money is being spent on as you donate. It makes you feel as though you are doing something.

[Tiresias]

I think if you're doing charity for the freedbies you get off them you're doing it for the wrong reason. Most of those booklets are there so the members can raise awareness, but if I thought that the money I was sending to childsplay was going into administration and sending out thankyou cards I'd be much less enthused about donating.

[Starfisher]

I'm not sure you understand how Child's Play works. You, the donator, are directed to a "wishlist" from the hospital of your choice. You then buy one or more of the items from that list, and it is shipped to the hospital.

Why should they mail out booklets telling you what your money has been spent on if you already know? There is little overhead involved since it's effectively a p2p connection being facilitated by Penny Arcade and Amazon (for free). I'm as connected to the charitable work as I can be without physically delivering the gifts to a room full of terminally ill, contagious zombie children.

Please, take five minutes and research how Child's Play works before returning.

[Tseng_Fox]

I think if you're doing charity for the freedbies you get off them you're doing it for the wrong reason. Most of those booklets are there so the members can raise awareness, but if I thought that the money I was sending to childsplay was going into administration and sending out thankyou cards I'd be much less enthused about donating.

Im not doing it for freebies. Im doing it for good. But I would like to know that my donation actually means something and that it isnt a waste of time.

I'm not sure you understand how Child's Play works. You, the donator, are directed to a "wishlist" from the hospital of your choice. You then buy one or more of the items from that list, and it is shipped to the hospital.

There. Thats all I needed to know.

I wanted to see if this charity is different from those ones on television. Glad to see that they engage donators in some way.

[Adonis]

Tseng, did you even go to their website? I mean, a lot of what you've been asking could have been easily answered from just the front page of their site.

[Tseng_Fox]

Thats true, but why do that? this is the closest and most unbiased way of finding out information without talking to those who do run the charity. Since at least I won't be pressured to donate here.

Besides, it gets people talking and talking is healthy. Plus, we are still on the subject of the charity and havent went off topic.

[Adonis]

Thats true, but why do that?

I dunno. Research? Finding out what the charity is about? Forming your own opinion without the influence of others? Deciding whether the charity is for a good cause or just blowing smoke?

[Tseng_Fox]

I dunno. Research? Finding out what the charity is about? Forming your own opinion without the influence of others?

I don't trust charity websites myself. I would rather not say my reasons in case the thread gets locked.

I found out what the charity was about right here. Influence of others only serves to help shape our opinions. You can't form a whole opinion on one source.

Deciding whether the charity is for a good cause or just blowing smoke?

Hard to find out nowadays sadly without sending the money first. Thats why its good to question before even considering to send any.

EDIT: Im not going to answer why on this thread. I don't want to take it off topic. I want it to stay on the topic of this charity and its achievements.

[Tiresias]

I don't trust charity websites myself. I would rather not say my reasons in case the thread gets locked.

I really want to know now

[Ultimatum]

So do I.