GAMERS RAISE ALMOST $200,000 FOR SICK KIDS AT ANNUAL CHILD’S PLAY GALA AND AUCTION

Total Now Approaching 2009’s Record of $1.4 Million with More Coming in Daily

SEATTLE – Dec. 11, 2009 – Geeks and gamers raised $192,406 at the annual Child’s Play Gala and Auction. All proceeds go to gifts for sick children at more than 70 hospitals worldwide.

The gamer community gathers once a year to bid on rare and unique items including studio tours, concept art, games and consoles and original artwork to raise money for the charity. The proceeds add to donations already contributed by gamers around the world, many organizing their own events and fundraising activities in their own cities.

With the proceeds of the Gala and Auction, Child’s Play has raised more than $1.2 million thus far and is within spitting distance of the record $1.4 million raised last year.

“The response this year was fantastic. We had everyone from major game publishers to individual gamers donating items for the auction,” said Kristin Lindsay, Foundation Coordinator for Child's Play. “We just want to remind everyone that it’s not too late to get involved. You can still make cash or product donations on the Child’s Play site and help us break last year’s record.”

Started in 2003, Child’s Play http://www.childsplaycharity.org, supported by the entire video game community, has raised more than $5 million dollars in toys, games and cash for hospitalized kids since its inception. In addition to hospitals in the U.S., gamers contributing to Child’s Play serve hospitals in the U.K, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Egypt.