In a down year for the U.S. economy, Child’s Play still managed to surpass the previous record by a staggering $346,493. Gamers worldwide proved that nothing could dampen their enthusiasm for charity; the annual gala dinner and auction brought in just under $200,000 over a single evening and the Desert Bus for Hope marathon raised an impressive $139,000 thanks to thousands of sadistic online viewers.

The charity received widespread support from corporate sponsors including Amazon, Microsoft, Harmonix, MTV, Sony Online Entertainment, Wizards of the Coast, PopCap, Ventrilo, Bioware, Ubisoft and RAD Game Tools.  Charitable foundations including the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund and the Bohemian Foundation also provided grants.

“Every year we think we’ve peaked, but each new year we get thousands of new gamers pitching in, coming up with their own events to raise funds,” explains Kristin Lindsay, Foundation Coordinator, Child's Play.  “At a time when most charities are struggling to get traditional donors to contribute, we’ve found that gamers are second to none in their willingness to donate their time and money to a worthy cause.”  

Lindsay said that, while the focus of Child’s Play is to deliver gifts for the holidays, hospitals are in desperate needs of support year round.  The hospital wish lists will remain online at Amazon and the foundation will continue to accept donations through PayPal.

Started in 2003, Child’s Play has raised more than $6.7 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.

The next episode of Penny Arcade: The Series will focus on this year’s Child’s Play.