These are just some of the prizes you can win in this year’s charity contest!
Kyle Orland
Update: If you received a bounced email when you tried to enter using the original @arstechnica.com address, please resubmit your entry to the updated ArsCharityDrive@gmail.com. If you didn’t get a bounceback, your submission was received. Sorry for the inconvenience
Original story
It’s the season of giving, and here at Ars we’d like to give some stuff to you as you give to some deserving charities. That’s right – it’s the 2014 edition of our annual Charity Drive.
Since 2007, we have been actively encouraging readers to donate to Penny Arcade’s Child’s Play charity, which provides toys and games to children treated in hospitals around the world. Last year, we added the Electronic Frontier Foundation to our annual charity drive, supporting their efforts to defend internet freedom. This year, as in years past, we’re providing an extra incentive for those donations by offering donors pieces from the large stack of vendor-provided swag shown above. We can’t keep it (ethically) and we don’t want it clogging up our offices anyway, so it’s yours for the taking.
This year’s swag pile is another big one. We have over 100 prizes worth over $4,000, including game consoles, headsets, collectible games, limited edition rare items, clothing and other cool collectibles. In 2013, Ars readers raised more than $23,000 for charity, contributing to a total proceeds of more than $141,000 since 2007. This year we hope to break 2012’s record of over $28,000 in donations, and we can do it if readers really dig deep.
How it works
Donating is easy. Simply donate to Child’s Play with PayPal or donate to the EFF with PayPal, credit card or Bitcoin. You can also support Child’s Play directly by choosing an item from a specific hospital’s Amazon wishlist on their donation page. Donate as much or as little as you feel comfortable – every little bit helps.
Once that’s done, it’s time to register your entry for our contest. Just grab a digital copy of your receipt (either a forwarded email, a screenshot, or just a cut-and-paste of the text) and send it to ArsCharityDrive@gmail.com with your name, mailing address, and daytime phone number no later than Friday, 2 January 2015. (One entry per person, and each person can win up to one prize. US residents only. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. See official rules for more information, including how to enter without making a donation. See also the Ars Technica Privacy Policy.)
We will then contact the winners and let them choose their prize before January 31st (the choice will be made in the order the winners are drawn).
The prices
We’ve got so many awards this year that we’re highlighting just a few of the biggest and most sought after below. See page two for a full list of dozens of others.
Xbox One system with Kinect
These were given to each attendee of Microsoft’s BUILD conference. Since we already have enough Xbox One systems here at Ars Orbiting HQ, you can have this one!
Mad Catz Pro Racing Force Feedback Wheel and Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Ferrari (458 Italia Edition)
For true racing fans, steering with an analog stick is simply not enough. These two professional racing wheels help bring your virtual driving experience closer to what a real driver experiences every day. They have been lightly used during our review process, but are still in good condition for a few lucky winners.
Wolfenstein The New Order: Panzerhund Edition
Only 5,000 individually numbered copies of this limited collector’s edition pack have been made, and now’s your chance to own one. You get an 8-inch movable Panzerhund statue, an exclusive SteelBook (G2) game case, a set of 14 full-color weathered postcards from the game universe, three high-quality, embroidered patches, custom-molded replica dog tags, and 11″ classified documents” detailing the game world, all stored in a footlocker-style box (note: does not contain a copy of the game).
YanTouch IceDiamond+ Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Tired of tangled wires ruining the clean look of your stereo system? Upgrade to this stylish backlit geodesic Bluetooth speaker, with ten hours of battery life, enhanced bass and a remote control.
Skylanders giants gold Hot Dog (E3 & Licensing Show Edition)
Looking for a gift for the Skylanders fan who has everything? We suspect he or she doesn’t have this bronze-colored limited edition of fan-favorite Hot Dog handed out to select press and attendees at this year’s E3 and other trade shows. These things have gone on auction sites for $100 and up, and we have one more in the original packaging to give to some lucky winners.
Still not thrilled? The next page lists over 100 prizes you can win by entering. Have a look!