Blizzard Donates $800,000 From Virtual Pet Sales To Make-A-Wish

Blizzard Entertainment is donating $800,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation America, which it raised through virtual pet sales in World of Warcraft late last year. When Blizzard introduced its Moonkin Hatchling to the MMORPG, the publisher promised to send 50 percent of the proceeds from the $10 pet during November and December 2010 to Make-A-Wish. Presumably, it sold 160,000 of the pets during that period. Blizzard also worked with the charity last month to grant the wishes of two boys facing life-threatening medical conditions. The kids visited the company's headquarters in Irvine and were treated to an inside look at World of Warcraft with the MMORPG's development team. This news comes a few days after Blizzard added another in-game pet, the Cenarion Hatchling, to World of Warcraft. The company will donate 100 percent of the $10 pet's sales between now and July 31 to the American Red Cross's Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief efforts. The publisher began its World of Warcraft charity efforts in November 2009 when it created its first premium pet, the Pandaren Monk, for the online game. Blizzard raised $1.1 million during a two-month campaign, which it donated to Make-A-Wish. "We've had a long relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and are proud to help contribute to the great work they do for children," says Blizzard CEO and co-founder Mike Morhaime. "We're also proud of the spirit and generosity of our players – their enthusiasm for World of Warcraft and for supporting a good cause made this donation possible."