Child's Play charity raises record $3.5M in 2011

Thanks in part to donations from throughout the game industry, the Penny Arcade-led Child's Play charity brought in $3,512,345 in 2011, all of which will go toward providing toys and games to hospitalized children around the world. This new total sets a new record for the charity, which pulled in more than $2.2 million in 2010. It also far exceeds the organization's goal, which fell in at around $2 million as of early December. In a recent blog post, Child's Play project manager Jamie Dillon attributed most of the charity's growth to the increasing number of independent fundraisers. For instance, 2011 saw the first annual Child's Play Golf Tournament, in addition to scores of community-driven events, with major contributions coming from the Humble Indie Bundle, LoadingReadyRun's "Desert Bus for Hope" marathon, and more. "Let that sink in for a second. Over three and a half million dollars going to hospitals worldwide to ease the suffering of kids when they need it most. All because you, as a community, came together to make a difference. And what a difference it is," Dillon said. Last month, Child's Play reached more than $10 million in total donations since its founding in 2003. The charity currently serves more than 80 hospitals across North America, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Egypt.