Child's Play 2006 Begins!

[Sazime]

From the "Gamers are Good People" (http://www.penny-arcade.com) dept, Child's Play 2006 (http://www.childsplaycharity.org/index.php) is officially off and running!
And so it begins!
Welcome to the kick off of the 2006 Child's Play Charity drive for children's hospitals. We have an expanded map this year, with exciting new partners and sponsors from all over the world. We also have an Events page for 2006, where you can check out any Child's Play fundraisers going on in your area.

Last year's drive raised over $605,000 for sick children, and we're hoping to smash that record total this winter. Check out the wish lists, read up on the local events and let's show the world what the gaming community is all about!
And this year, they have even more hospitals. As Tycho said, "...head on over and see if we've got a hospital even closer to you this year. If you live in Egypt, the odds of that are very good."

I think Evil Avatar could lead the way in the area of total community donations. Are you up to it folks? Gonna show Jackie T. what you're made of?

[Psykoboy2]

I've gotta split my donations in the name of this place and the other site (http://www.mouselook.com) that me and my friends (locally) are involved with (it's in my sig). But I plan on making donations regardless.

[JRR006]

Cool, they've got one of the hospitals in Kenosha, about ten minutes from where I'm currently sitting.

[Lutheran]

I filled my Amazon cart with a few items and tomorrow I will send it off to Montefiore hospital for children in NY. All the stupid crap I have done in my life and all the wasted money , to do this makes me feel good so I am glad that this website does this every year. I shouldn't need to be reminded though.

[jromero]

It makes me feel good to know that, as a gamer, being part of a community such as EA and PA we can transcend all the negative media press. That we, as a community, can impact and make a positive difference in countless lives. Every year when PA launches their Child's Play campaign, it takes all I can do to not send a link to people like Joseph Lieberman or Jack Thompson and say, "Hey, you see this? This is what our community is all about." Projects like this bring out the true human spirit, and this is why I'll be a gamer until the day I die. The culture has grown so much that we've taken it to the next level and integrated it to the point to where we are set up to alter the way the public views gamers as a whole.

/rant off

[GunnyMo]

I'm sorry but Akron, Ohio? Who the hell is in Akron, Ohio? How about Cincinnati or Columbus. You know, cities people have heard of?

Don't get me wrong, the expansion of CP is awesome and I'll donate again but Akron? :p

[Sazime]

I'm sorry but Akron, Ohio? Who the hell is in Akron, Ohio? How about Cincinnati or Columbus. You know, cities people have heard of?

Don't get me wrong, the expansion of CP is awesome and I'll donate again but Akron? :p
I'd imagine because there's not a children's hospital in Columbus or Cincinnati?

[rein]

It makes me feel good to know that you guys got my back and are donating. Damned if I am giving my hard earned money away!


I'm just kidding. I donate to Childs Play (or CP if you're one of the cool kids) every year among other charities. :D

[GunnyMo]

I'd imagine because there's not a children's hospital in Columbus or Cincinnati?

Hmm, I wonder where my wife has been working then. It must be some alternate, weird universe where Cincinnati Children's Hospital is not, in fact, a hospital for children. Oh! It's a midget hospital! They just call it "Children's" to fool the public. I mean, who wants a midget hospital in their neighborhood? It's like asking people if they want a prison built next to their house. :p

(I know it was an honest question but I couldn't resist a little 1am smart assery)

[cp#]

I can see Shands Hospital from my window

[Lodin]

And so the next two months will be nothing but bitching for scraps, 24/7!

[ominous]

Hmm, I wonder where my wife has been working then. It must be some alternate, weird universe where Cincinnati Children's Hospital is not, in fact, a hospital for children. Oh! It's a midget hospital! They just call it "Children's" to fool the public. I mean, who wants a midget hospital in their neighborhood? It's like asking people if they want a prison built next to their house. :p

(I know it was an honest question but I couldn't resist a little 1am smart assery)
Except Akron Children's Hospital is about 100x more known and renown than any other children's hospital in Ohio.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akron_Children's_Hospital
and the hundreds of acomplishments and discoveries compared to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cincinnati_Children's_Hospital_Medical_Center

I'm not sure how you could work in the field and make such a stupid statement about Akron Children's Hospital....

[GunnyMo]

Um, #1 I never said I worked for Children's and # 2 you're a presumptuous fuck.

And who the hell does a dick size comparison when it comes to hospitals? I was merely making a sarcastic remark that nobody on this earth ever hears about something in Akron and you start a pissing contest.

Besides, Cincy Children's was home to the doctor who invented the cure for polio. Mother fucking polio! I'm sure you parents are grateful if you aren't.

Leave it to some dipshit with two posts to start a goddamn flame war in a children's charity thread. Nice work.

(it's 1am, I'm tired and bitchy. Sue me.)

[ominous]

Um, #1 I never said I worked for Children's and # 2 you're a presumptuous fuck.
I'm sorry, you just kinda implied that with the post I quoted.
And who the hell does a dick size comparison when it comes to hospitals?
Uhm, anyone who ever wants some serious medical related thing done to them...
I was merely making a sarcastic remark that nobody on this earth ever hears about something in Akron and you start a pissing contest.
I don't even live in Akron, I live in Columbus. I just thought your statement reaked of ignorance. You implied one of the best Children's Hospitals in the U.S. wasn't as worthy for gifts as Columbus or Cincinnati.
Besides, Cincy Children's was home to the doctor who invented the cure for polio. Mother fucking polio! I'm sure you parents are grateful if you aren't.
I wasn't aware.
Leave it to some dipshit with two posts to start a goddamn flame war in a children's charity thread. Nice work.
1.) Post count does not dictate intelligence, as you've demonstrated brilliantly.
2.) You started it. =p I'm done.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

You're both idiots, shut up.

[Loganrapp]

I hope next year Fresno, CA's Children's Hospital gets looked at. It's a big enough city where it'll show up on most US maps, but it's in a place where there's not a lot of money compared to the rest of the map. And hearing from people who volunteered there, they're really needing some help.

Though like always I'll throw what meager funds I have after tuition to help where I can.

[Sazime]

(I know it was an honest question but I couldn't resist a little 1am smart assery)
Sure, SURE. Be that way, now I'll go and pout. But yeah, I didn't know. :)
I'm not sure how you could work in the field and make such a stupid statement about Akron Children's Hospital....
Just so we're clear, if anyone should take offense to Gunny's comment, it should be me. And really, I'm not offended. It was a question, and he answered, in his own pink-tinged, smartass way, but that's fine. No biggie. I ain't sweat'n it.

[Murtaug]

..snip..

..snip...

Bringing that kind of thing into a thread about a great charity, good going guys, just the sort of thing gaming culture needs in light of all the bad press we receive.

How about you spend the time writing a letter to Child's Play, and talking with someone at the hospital your wife works? Remember when Child's Play started? It was what, one hospital? Two? Sheesh, they can't include everyone, though I imagine they would if they could.

Get over yourself and point either party in the others direction, send a letter to Child's Play, open a channel so they can get in touch with the hospital and maybe add them to the list, or at the very least include them next year.

This is for the kids.

[bKangy]

Agreed, stop being a dick and do something about it for next year.

My personal donation... Not sure yet. I'll order the kids something from Amazon when I order mum and dad's present I think, probably a couple of DS games. It's fantastic to see that they're keeping a hospital on the map in the UK. I'd do it regardless, but I feel that a lot more UK people will be getting involved because of it.

The only shame is that there aren't any events in the UK I suppose, but perhaps next year I'll offer to help out and make one.

[NoName]

I'm sorry but Akron, Ohio? Who the hell is in Akron, Ohio? How about Cincinnati or Columbus. You know, cities people have heard of?
Amazing how some new guy started posting with the sole intent of flaming this question.

Anyways, as a serious answer, I recall Tycho mentioning a year or two back how many hospitals they've approached turned them down.

Gunny, if you do read this, have your wife ask if the hospital she works at would be up for receiving donations. Hospitals get added to the list mid drive assuming they want to join.

[GunnyMo]

Gunny, if you do read this, have your wife ask if the hospital she works at would be up for receiving donations. Hospitals get added to the list mid drive assuming they want to join.

Thanks for an intelligent answer to my sarcastic humor. I will do just that.

It's amazing how many people have absolutely no sense of humor. :rolleyes:

[fitbabits]

The Children's Hospital in Denver is on there, which means my donation is incoming! Awesome job, PA!

[fitbabits]

I've stickied the thread as I believe it deserves it!

[anakin876]

I wonder if Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City is as well known as I think it is - or if I just know of it because I'm LDS. It would be nice to see them there - but I wonder if they were one of the hospitals that turned down the PA crew.

Edit: apparently it is really the Primary Children's Medical Center - and they do accept donations. Hmmm.

[EternalGamer]

I donated to Child's Play last year but it is not high on my list of effective charities. I don't think the newest consumer gadgetry (electronic or otherwise) is the best way to help these kids get over the emotional and physical difficulties they are facing. The best thing for them is being surrounded by people who want to show that they care and are willing to spend time with them during those long boring hosipital hours, and through those scary moments.

I'd much rather donate the majority of my giving to organizations that actually do something to help eliminate the source of pain in the world, rather than just one that buys kids stuff in the promotion of consumer escapism. It seems to me much more worthwhile to donate to cancer or AIDS research or buying a goat for a family in Camaroon, so they can eat.

I know this is an unpopular perspective because Child's Play resonates with so many gamers because it allows them to buy people videogames. I get the sense that for a lot of gamers, this is their primary charity and I think that is sort of a ashame. Isn't that a bit egotistical to prioritize that type of giving just because its related to your hobby? And if your goal is to prove to the likes of Jack Thompson that you are really more humane, buying kids a bunch of what he has (ridiculiously) labeled as "murder simulators" is hardly going to impress him.

There are lot more things people need more desperately in the world. That is not to say there is not room for a charity like Child's Play, but when I think of all the good that money could do elsewhere, and how it still doesn't really show gamer's ability to truly reach outside of their interest areas, I find it a little disconcerting.

[GunnyMo]

Thanks, Eternal! whew! Now I'm not the ass of this thread. :p

I'm kidding, of course. You raise a valid point. I see CP as going more towards giving the kids something to take their mind away from what they are going through. We've all used video games as an escape from reality and the kids in these hospitals are no different. CP isn't trying to cure cancer or AIDS but give kids something to have fun with while they are in what is most likely a very scary place. Video games are familiar to kids and familiar means happy.

That's my interpretation anyway.

[EternalGamer]

Yeah, I understand that GunnyMo, and I'm not saying that buying them products as a means to make them happy and help them escape is completely bad, but I do think it is somewhat problematic. Nevertheless, I agree that it definitely can be a positive thing.

[easi]

Donating just to spite Jack Thompson is fucking idiotic. Just like Gabe bragging about his donations in newsposts.

CHARITY SHOULD BE ANONYMOUS.

[Zacharai]

I disagree with Eternal -- donating a physical item is more meaningful for me than giving money to an amorpheous organization. For all I know, that money is being spent on someone's inflated salary, not on real research/help.

I have friends who are doctors at Riley Children's Hospital, and they tell me how much the kids like the donations. I gave a DS last year, and I'll probably give a DS lite this year. It's remarkably obtuse to criticize any kind of donation, especially to puff yourself up more (look, I give REAL help!).

[fitbabits]

I disagree with Eternal -- donating a physical item is more meaningful for me than giving money to an amorpheous organization. For all I know, that money is being spent on someone's inflated salary, not on real research/help.

I have friends who are doctors at Riley Children's Hospital, and they tell me how much the kids like the donations. I gave a DS last year, and I'll probably give a DS lite this year. It's remarkably obtuse to criticize any kind of donation, especially to puff yourself up more (look, I give REAL help!).
I know where you're coming from here. I also gave itemic (a new word) donations to the hospital I worked in last year and they were very well received. This year, with my wife being a pediatrician, I'll be doing the same at her hospital. While it's true that kids need love and support, they also need a means of escape from the dire straits they are in - video games supply that.

[KingGorilla]

If you want to stick it to people who say gamers are selfish and violent(you know who I mean) donate folks, this is one of the best charities out there.

[Asmodan]

Cool, they've got one of the hospitals in Kenosha, about ten minutes from where I'm currently sitting.

Yeah, they added the Wauwatosa hospital too, nice to see us Wisconsite get some lovin'.

[Wraith]

It's cool to see them expanding yet again this year, and to Australia and Egypt (of all places). The more the merrier (quite literally).