Signs are OK and e-mail blasts can be effective, but if you really want to get somebody's attention, sometimes the bet is to give them a video game to play.
Charity Arcade, a new company based in Garland, recognizes that. Its business model revolves around providing "multicades" (arcade machines with multiple games on them) and train sets to local events and locations for the purpose of raising money for charity.
You don't have to pay to play, but messages both inside and outside the game will encourage players to donate money. Since the machines are set to free play, both coins and bills will be accepted.
Charity Arcade itself is a for-profit company, loaning out its arcade cabinets and trains to charities for either a "minimal charge" or a small percentage of the donations. "Everything we're going to do will greatly benefit the non-profit," Charity Arcade founder Gary Bubb says. "We're not asking for a whole lot. We just want the idea to work."
Currently the company only has one arcade cabinet and one train, but more of each are being built.
The arcade cabinets are being constructed from recycled parts -- used LCD monitors and old electronic gambling machines -- rather than gutting existing classic games that could be seen as collector's items. The train set tables are re-purposed from thrift stores.
Charity Arcade's parent company is Bubb Fundraising (which, as you might guess, is also a venture from Gary Bubb), which has been doing recycling fundraisers throughout D-FW, San Antonio and Austin for 15 years. They've worked with charities and events such as the Richardson Trash Bash (benefiting the Richardson Police Department), JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and many local high schools and churches.
Bubb's goal is that these machines wouldn't just show up at events, but could become permanent fixtures at locations like thrift stores or even company break rooms.
Anybody interested in getting a Charity Arcade machine for their event or establishment can get in touch via its website.
