The Child's Play annual fund raising campaign has finished this year with over one million dollars in cash and toys donated. The charity aims to help children's hospital through the gathering of books, toys, video games, and cash that can be used to help the kids who have to visit the facilities. Started in 2003, each year has seen massive growth in the amount of toys and funds raised, with 2006 being the first year to reach the magical million dollar mark.

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Since it's inception by the founders of Penny Arcade, the charity has raised over two million dollars in toys, books, and cash, with 100% of the donations going to hospitals around the world. Over 25 hospitals across 5 countries have been affected in some way by the generosity of gamers, and that list is expected to grow in the coming years. The founders of Child's Play were hoping that this year would be a turning point, as evidenced by a recent post to their readers:

My hope is that we will top eight hundred thousand, because the rhetorical payload is simply too potent: Child's Play will have, officially, raised "millions" of dollars. Specifically, you know... two million. I was going to downplay that figure, but then I remembered that it was two million dollars.

They easily passed the 800,000 amount they were hoping for, with much of the final donations coming in through their charity auction. With numerous pieces of game memorabilia and Penny Arcade related merchandise, the event raises large amounts of money from gamers of all sorts. Various sites around the internet have also picked up the torch and promote Child's Play through various auctions and fund raisers.

One reason that the Child's Play charity was started was to find a way to give gamers and video games more positive press. It's hard to deny that video games are having a positive impact when they bring together people that are willing to donate, literally, millions of dollars to help children.