Anyone who travels knows that way too much time is spent waiting. You have to wait at the airport, the train station, even for a taxi. Sometimes it seems like all we do is hurry up so that we can wait some more.
How can you put all those precious waiting minutes to good use? You can keep a book nearby, but often you just get into the plot and it’s time to put it aside. You can talk on your phone, annoying everyone around you and risking private information being overheard my many. You can stare into space, day dream, or even try to come up a way to save the world.
But what if during all the waiting around you really could save the world? Well, maybe not you alone and maybe not the entire world, but what if you could use the waiting time to support a cause that was important to you?
That’s part of the premise behind a new on-line game charity called GamesThatGive that launched earlier this week. It’s a chance for you to play some of your favorite online games for FREE and while doing so generate funds for your favorite charity. Funds are generated by the corporations who sponsor the site, who have agreed to donate 70% of its advertising revenue to charity. All you have to do is pull out your smart phone or laptop, and choose your favorite game. They say: “70% of our ad revenue goes to your favorite charity. You play. We donate. No Catch.”
Who are the community minded businesses involved with the venture? More are being added each day, but so far include Domino’s Pizza, Starbuck’s, Pepsi, Best Buy, Quaker Oats, Dial, and MasterCard.
There are about 9 games that you can choose from, including Solitaire, Blackjack, Gems, Bubble Burst, and Sudoku. Pick your favorite, or try to learn a new one. Although I’m not a big game person, when I could help raise money for Breast Cancer Network of Strength, Mercy Corps, or Ronald McDonald House Charities (just three of the charities you can choose), it seemed like gaming was a good idea.
There’s even a social media component, if you want to challenge your friends to beat your scores, raise more money, or get involved.
I just checked the site before writing this post, and it said that $3.147.87 had been raised so far. If you’re hanging out with time on your hands, play a game or two and make that total go much higher!
Photo credit: SXC
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