Are you a gamer who wants to give back? There are a variety of charities that cater to gamers. Whether they involve time, money, or something else entirely, these charities are all for those who bask in the glow of their screens.
Help a Child’s Hospital Stay get a Little Better with Child’s Play
Image via Flickr by khelvan
Child’s Play was one of the first gamer-centric charities. Children in hospitals around the world benefit from the donations of consoles, games, and money provided by gamers. With events all over the country and the option to donate through the website or directly to a hospital, Child’s Play has become the most popular name in gaming charities.
Recycle Your Games to Help Sick Children with DonateGames
Image via Flickr by Yousuf Maimoon
Do you have an old console or games you no longer play? DonateGames takes used games and resells them at a discounted price. The proceeds of these sales then go to help fund research and treatment programs for children with rare diseases. You can give directly, donate consoles and games, or buy consoles and games from their website.
Contribute to Scientific Research with Foldit
Image via Flickr by NWABR
Are you interested in science? Do you love to learn new things while helping the scientific community? Is gaming your favorite vice? If so, you need to check out Foldit. This game is designed to help scientists understand the nearly unlimited ways proteins fold. From this, scientists can figure out diseases and the cures for them. By playing the game, you are helping scientists save years of work and thousands of lives.
Make Molecules by Playing Eterna
Image via Flickr by AJC1
If you are looking for a fun way to give to a cause, try Eterna. In this online game you are using your 4G internet network to create molecules. The game walks you through how the molecules are created, teaching you at the same time you are playing. The point of the game is to help scientists understand how RNA molecules fold and how they may not fold as expected, creating genetic problems.
Social Gaming Helps Children in Third World Countries with WeTopia
Image via Flickr by uncultured
Try out the new social game WeTopia. You don’t need to spend money to play. In fact, WeTopia generates a significant amount of their money from advertisers and corporate sponsors. However, if you do feel liplake giving a little extra, you can purchase in-game items. Proceeds go to partnered charities such as Save the Children and Action for Healthy Kids.
Buy Games Online to Support Charities with Humble Bundle
Image via Flickr by redtimmy
Humble Bundle started as a way for gamers to support charities and indie game developers. It has grown immensely and has a unique premise. The company offers video games (or books, music, and whatever they come up with next) and users get to decide how much they want to pay. When you purchase, you also get to decide what percentage of that price goes to charity. Humble Bundle has raised over $10 million for charities so far. Gamers give back in many ways. From physical systems to monetary donations, game based charities are on the rise.
Author Bio: DJ Miller is a graduate student at the University of Tampa. He is an avid gadget geek who uses his fast 4G internet network to play online video games, research for his articles, and talk with friends all over the world. You can follow him on twitter @MillerHeWrote
About Warren Bowman
