Xbox and Make-A-Wish® Australia Join Forces in Online Fundraiser
Aussie student inspires idea to use Halo Reach to raise money for charity partnership
One thing you have to give Microsoft, they are not shy on helping out or doing various public relations events or functions.
Since starting this site in 2007, I’ve been to MTV events, seen how MS and GAME teamed up to give away a street registered Xbox Customised Harley Hog valued at over $AU13,000, been aboard the HMAS Torbruk which cost them millions to organise for a pop feastive, ventured onto Cockatoo Island for the huge Halo 3 launch event where they brought over the Halo Hog purpose built at WETA studios in New Zealand, plus many many other events too numerious to mention here.
Microsoft is certainly not reluctant to make sure its name is everywhere, and that the brand is seen by a broad range of demographics, moreso than any other of the gaming giants.
So my hat goes off, yet again, to the guys at Microsoft, and especially to the young QUT (Queensland University of Technology) student Brendan Graham who came up with the latest charity event which you will read all about below.
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SYDNEY, Australia. — September 2, 2010 — Xbox Australia has just announced a partnership fundraising campaign with Make-A-Wish® that will see proceeds from the sale of Halo Reach avatars and the Halo Wireless headset for the highly anticipated game on Xbox 360, Halo Reach, go to helping the charity grant Wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The announcement is led by Apollo 11 moon-landing astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, this week at a public lecture at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS).
Managing Director for Xbox Australia, David McLean, said the idea to partner the launch of Halo Reach with a charity came from an unlikely source but was truly inspirational.
“The inspiration for this campaign actually came from a marketing student at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brendan Graham, who posted it online as part of a marketing competition. Our team saw this and spoke to Brendan directly to ask if he could help us make it happen. We contacted Make-A-Wish with the idea and away we went. It’s very exciting for Xbox to see the idea take shape and become a reality”, McLean said.
McLean also said partnering with Buzz Aldrin to make the announcement came as a natural fit due to the setting of Halo. Halo is a science fiction game series based in a world where space travel between planets is commonplace.
The Halo game series has reached blockbuster status worldwide and has sold over 1 million copies in Australia alone over its franchise history – one of the most popular Xbox games in Australia to date.
The campaign will give 100% of proceeds from the sales of Halo Reach avatars sold to Australian customers till October 31st, 2010 and $5 per unit sold of the Halo Reach wireless headsets sold in Australia, go directly to Make-A-Wish.
Interim CEO of Make-A-Wish Australia, Vici Funnell, welcomed the commitment from Xbox and said the campaign will provide a great boost to help the organisation with its goals in the coming years.
“Make-A-Wish Australia are very happy to continue the relationship with Xbox. Our key aim is to assist our Wish Kids as they fight illnesses and enrich their lives with hope, strength and joy and we applaud Xbox for helping us do this – we are truly grateful.” Vici said.
Forty one years after walking on the moon, Buzz Aldrin is visiting Australia to launch the much anticipated Xbox 360 exclusive, Halo Reach. Mr Aldrin personally announced the partnership between Xbox and Make-A-Wish at a public lecture at UTS this week. He said he was impressed with the idea to engage Xbox gamers to deliver support funding to charity.
“It’s great to see how a company like Microsoft can utilise its relationship with the Australian Xbox LIVE community to raise awareness and funding for such a great cause. It’s inspirational.” Buzz said.
Details:
Details of donations from Halo Reach profits that will go to Make-A-Wish: Donation to equal $AUD30,000 minimum:
- For every Halo Reach Avatar item purchased by Australian gamers by October 31st, 100% of proceeds will go to Make-A-Wish.
- For every Halo Reach Wireless headset sold in Australia, $5 per unit will go to Make-A-Wish
About Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish® Australia grants the Wis hes of children with life-threatening medical
conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Foundation was established in 1985 and has since granted over 6,200 Wishes nation-wide.
We have over 1,200 volunteers at 59 branches across Australia. In 2009 alone Make-A-Wish® granted 400 Wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
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Filed under: Console gaming, Events, Game Industry News, Industry News, Press Release, Support Australian Stores, Xbox 360 Tagged: | Brendan Graham, Make A Wish campagne, Make-A-Wish, Online Fundraiser, oxcgn news, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 S, Xbox and Make-A-Wish join forces
