What is Child's Play?

In a nutshell, gamers rally together to donate money, games and toys to childrens hospitals worldwide.

The Child's Play Charity (otherwise known simply as "Child's Play") was founded in 2003 by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, the founders of Penny Arcade. As of 2009, Child's Play has rallied together the support of over 100,000 gamers from around the globe while collecting over $5,000,000 worth of donations.

From the Child's Play website:

With almost 70 partner hospitals and more arriving every month, you can be sure to find one that needs your help! You can choose to purchase requested items from their online retailer wish lists, or make a cash donation that helps out Child's Play hospitals everywhere. Any items purchased through Amazon will be shipped directly to your hospital of choice, so please be sure to select their shipping address rather than your own.

You can learn more about the organization in the Press section of the Child's Play website.

Why are we getting involved?

It's no secret that Grand Theft Auto is one of the most controversial titles on the market today. Mainstream media has a well-established history of lambasting the series, and all too often GTA gamers are thrown under the bus for the sake of viewership/readership.

As one of the largest networks built around the Grand Theft Auto franchise, we've taken it upon ourselves to show the naysayers that our community does give a damn about what goes on in the world around us.

How can the community take action?

1. Donate to the cause. You can send money through PayPal or purchase Amazon wishlist items for the hospital of your choice. You can find a map of hospitals on the Child's Play website.

2. Spread the word. Pick up a package of Child's Play Greeting Cards to send to friends and family, buy a t-shirt, join the cause on Facebook or choose from a handful of banners to place on your site or blog.

You can also put a link to the Child's Play website in your GTAForums signature:

[color=green]~ [URL=http://www.childsplaycharity.org/]Proud Supporter of the [b]Child's Play Charity[/b]![/URL] | [URL=https://www.gta4.net/charity/]GTANET + Child's Play[/URL] ~[/color]