Miscellany: Child's Play 2007

There's a whole lot of charities out there that deserve your support, but one that I've been contributing to these past few years is "Child's Play," founded by Penny Arcade authors Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins. Helping bring some fun and comfort to sick kids is about as uncontroversial a cause that you could think of, so it's no surprise that through the generosity of its many donors, Child's Play has raised over 2 million dollars in its first four years of operation, with $1 million of that coming in just the past season.

This money goes to buy toys, books, and video games for patients in hospitals, like Gainesville's local Shands Children's Hospitals. Though some might pooh-pooh this gift-giving as a waste of money, keep in mind that while donating to some medical charity might produce a cure or treatment decades from now, donating to "Child's Play" will improve someone's spirits right now. From the experience one of my family members, I know that video games can be a necessary escape from the limitations of the hospital bed.