GameSchool - http://www.stargameschool.org
Give them to a good cause and help children learn something from the games you grew up with. STAR, Inc.’s GameSchool department which uses preexisting games as a medium to develop academic and social skills in children invites gamers to recycle their old games by donating them to charity. Any donated game, game system or accessory would be used to teach children through fun, interactive and innovative classes in a positive environment. GameSchool currently offers classes teaching elementary school aged children to play games together both competitively and cooperatively, much like a sporting team. In the future and with gamers’ help we would like to be able to not only offer more classes to but to also provide children with a lending library of games. Donations may also be sold with the proceeds being used to help fund our program. STAR, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, and donations made to it are tax-deductible.
DonateGames - http://www.donategames.org
DonateGames is now accepting donations of all electronic games, gear, and gadgets – whether they work or not! Our charity will take your unwanted electronics off your hands, resell them, and direct 100% of proceeds to children’s rare disease research and treatment; and because DonateGames is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, your donation is tax-deductible!
Vinny’s Kids - http://www.vinnykids.org/
Vinny's Kids, Inc. accepts new and gently used items as listed below, monetary donations, honorary and memorial contributions, and the valuable time of its volunteers! Vinny's Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity so all contributions are tax deductible and donations are properly recognized.
Child's Play - http://www.childsplaycharity.org
Child’s Play works in two ways. With the help of hospital staff, we set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, books, and other fun stuff for kids. By clicking on a hospital location on our map, you can view that hospital’s wish list and send a gift.
Child’s Play also receives cash donations throughout the year. With those cash donations, we purchase new consoles, peripherals, games, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow for children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.
While Child's Play is both the biggest and the first/only one I thought of when proposing the idea, they only work with events that will give them 100% of the proceeds...which theatres can rarely afford. The idea we've talked about has been to give discounted tickets for people who bring in items to donate, which makes the other three charities a lot more appealing...particularly DonateGames since we wouldn't have to worry about whether or not the donations work. STAR GameSchool is the most unique idea, however, since young designer-hopefuls will learn from their donations.
I don't know if there are other charities worth mentioning or not, but those are the ones Child's Play recommends if we're collecting items to donate. Still, the theatre's open for other creative ways to work a charity in too!
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Nominate SuperNiceDog's Guru-choice, then Epona.