My pals at DriveThruRPG.com just raised over $65,000 for Doctors Without Borders to help with the efforts to help out the people affected by the horrible floods in Pakistan. Good going to them, the gaming companies that supported them, and all the gamers who bought the special bundle to raise the money. Does my heart good to see that kind of rallying for people in such dire need.
See after the full press release after the break.
October 27th, 2010
*DriveThruRPG’s Customers Donate Over $65,000.00 to Doctors Without Borders
for Pakistan Relief*
(Atlanta, GA) — DriveThruRPG, an Internet-based business that specializes
in the marketing and distribution of role-playing games and role-playing
accessories for traditional dice-and-paper gaming, recently conducted a
fund-raising program in the wake of Pakistan’s devastating floods. Their
efforts, concluded on October 25, resulted in an amount in excess of
$65,000.00, all of which is being donated to the international emergency
medical organization, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF).
“For the second time this year, we asked the gaming community to step up and
help those in need,” said Sean Patrick Fannon, marketing and communications
manager for DriveThruRPG. “Once again, the response of the publishers and
the customers blew us away. I am proud to be part of this community, and I
am grateful for its capacity for generosity. We cannot erase the misery
suffered by the people of Pakistan, but we are hopeful that our efforts can
bring some relief and recovery to them.”
DriveThruRPG continues to support Doctors Without Borders because of its
mission to provide emergency medical care to people in over 60 countries
around the world, as a neutral and impartial organization.
“We would like to thank DriveThruRPG for choosing Doctors Without Borders as
the beneficiary of this event,” said Jennifer Tierney, director of
development for MSF-USA. “Contributions like this enable us to provide
assistance to those affected by the floods in Pakistan, through programs
focused on delivering safe drinking water, providing shelter for the
displaced, medical and nutritional care, and essential relief supplies.”
In addition to the RPG bundle that was offered, DriveThruComics (sister site
to DriveThruRPG) also offered a special charity package. “Comic and fiction
publishers at DriveThruComics were thrilled to donate some of their creative
work to the Pakistan relief cause,” said Matt McElroy, DriveThruComics
manager. “Comics fans responded, donating thousands of dollars and scooping
up some great digital comics along the way.”
Since early August, MSF aid workers have conducted nearly 50,000 medical
consultations at hospitals, mobile clinics, and diarrhea treatment centers.
The organization is providing 330,000 gallons of clean water per day, has
distributed nearly 58,000 relief item kits and 13,000 family tents to help
displaced people survive, and 1,700 malnourished children have been admitted
to feeding centers. Approximately 135 international aid workers are working
alongside 1,200 Pakistani staff in MSF’s existing and flood response
programs in Pakistan.
“Though we are deeply saddened that another tragedy like this has come up so
soon,” said Steve Wieck, CEO of DriveThruRPG, “we are gratified to know our
publishers and our customer base were able to step up once again and share
such generosity. Our relationship with Doctors Without Borders gives us a
solid and continuing conduit to channel that generosity into powerful and
effective relief efforts. We hope it’s a long time before we are needed in
such a way again, but we are ready to do what we can when that time comes.”
About DriveThurRPG:
DriveThruRPG..com is the world’s largest source of RPG products available
for download, as well as a burgeoning source of print-on-demand books for
gamers. It is an industry leader in modern business and technology
developments for the tabletop gaming fan. For more information, contact Sean
Patrick Fannon (*sean@onebookshelf.com*, 614-946-9371).
About Doctors Without Borders:
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international
medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to
assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or
catastrophe. The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. For
more information visit doctorswithoutborders.org.
