Video Game Industry To Raise $2 Million With Charity Game Pack

A limited-edition holiday season charity game pack is now available at retailers nationwide the ESA Foundation announced today. The multi-disc set, which retails at $29.99, for the Xbox® platform includes: Open Season; Fuzion Frenzy; and, Disney CARS. Proceeds, which are projected to reach $2 million, will be donated to the ESA Foundation to support positive programs for America’s youth.

“Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the game pack’s lead publisher, Microsoft. Their willingness to spearhead this effort is a model for our entire industry,” said Michael D. Gallagher, CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents U.S. computer and video game publishers. “The money raised will help advance the health, safety and welfare of America’s youth,” said Gallagher. He also thanked software donors Disney, THQ Ubisoft, Sony Pictures, and Pixar for their generous contributions.

The ESA Foundation noted that this was also made possible by: GreatWestern Industries, Packaging 2.0 LLC , Sonopress, Technicolor, Iridio, and TenGun Design.The ESA Charity Game pack is the culmination of the work and efforts of various partners that demonstrated their commitment to this project by donating services free of charge and/or waiving associated monetary fees and royalties.

The ESA Foundation game pack is available at the following retailers:

· Amazon.com
· Best Buy
· Blockbuster
· Circuit City
· CompUSA
· Costco
· Fred Meyer
· Frys Electronics
· Game Crazy
· GameStop
· Kmart\Sears
· Meijer
· Nebraska Furniture Mart
· Target
· ToysRUs
· Transworld (FYE)
· Wal-Mart\Sam’s

The ESA Foundation also announced today that it raised almost $900,000 at its recent black-tie charity dinner in San Francisco. The year’s sold out event contributed to the millions of dollars generated for children’s charities since the dinner’s inception in 1999. Co-chairs for this year were: Robbie Bach, president, Entertainment & Devices Division, Microsoft Corporation; Reggie Fils-Aime, president and chief operating officer, Nintendo of America, Inc.; and, Jack Tretton, president and chief executive officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America.

The ESA Foundation was created by the American interactive entertainment software industry to support and provide opportunities that can make a difference in the lives of America’s youth. The Foundation is fully supported by proceeds from “A Nite to Unite—for Kids,” its annual fund-raiser that has raised more than more than $7.8 million in the last six years. The Foundation provided grants to support: Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Delinquency Prevention Initiative - Year three, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Web Wise Kids, Just Think Foundation, YouthVision Challenge, Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) project, the expansion of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland Computer Learning Center, Starlight Starbright Foundation, PAX, Inc, Association of Hole in the Wall Camps and Work Achievement, Values and Education (WAVE). For more information, please visit www.theESA.com/foundation.