Members of Region Three,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the charity for Summit 2008.

This year we will be supporting Child's Play, a charity dedicated to helping make stays in our nation's Children's Hospitals more bearable. Information can be found at http://www.childsplaycharity.org/

From their web site:

Q: What is Child’s Play?

A: Child’s Play is a Seattle based, gamer-run organization that holds an annual toy drive for childrens’ hospitals. Many of the gifts donated by gamers are, as you might imagine, age appropriate videogames and gaming systems - but they are by no means the only things donated. We received eager donations of coloring books, art supplies, crafts, movies, cartoons, virtually anything a young person could ask for. We asked the world-wide community of gamers, and they gave so much we had to move to larger storage facilities three separate times.

Our 2006 event raised over one million dollars in toys and cash for 40 children’s hospitals around the US and the world, putting the community’s total contribution level since our inception at the two million dollar mark. This year, we’ve expanded Child’s Play again, including more partners in the US and internationally.

Q: Who is behind Child’s Play?

A: Child’s Play was started by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins of the online comic strip Penny Arcade, which concerns itself with videogames and gamer culture.

Q: Why did Penny-Arcade create Child’s Play?

A: Giving hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of toys to children in long-term care is its own reward. Past that, it’s a way to show a different side of people who play videogames as a hobby.

Q: How does Child’s Play work?

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 and the toys you purchase will be delivered directly. We also accept cash donations via Paypal to childsplaycharity <at> penny-arcade <dot> com, which will be used to buy additional equipment and split amongst the hospitals in this year’s drive.

Q: Where can I find more information about Child’s Play and its creators?

A: We welcome you to visit our online hub at http://www.childsplaycharity.org. Take advantage of the interactive map, choose the town nearest you and give a gift.

In service,
JEFFREY A. WEBB
Commodore, SFI
Commanding Officer, USS Ark Angel (FF-1889)
Vice Regional Coordinator, Third Fleet South
Contact COMM Webb