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Black Ops 2 personalization packs 25% off, proceeds to help veterans
Activision, Treyarch and Microsoft have partnered to help veterans find jobs via the Call of Duty Endowment non-profit organization and a sale on Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 personalization packs. From October 8-14, players can download personalization packs, which offer a calling card, weapon skin and three targeting reticles, from the Xbox Marketplace for 25 percent off. All profits generated during this sale will go toward the Call of Duty Endowment. "With this drive, we continue to pledge our support to the Call of Duty Endowment in support of veterans, and really appreciate everyone in our community who contributes to this great cause and gives back," Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch, said in a press release regarding the event.
MW3 avatar sales on Xbox Marketplace benefit Call of Duty Endowment
From Dec. 2 to Dec. 16, sales of all Modern Warfare 3 avatars from the Xbox Marketplace will benefit real-world soldiers returning from war via Activision's Call of Duty Endowment. Proceeds from avatar sales will go directly to help veterans transition from service to civilian life through the Endowment. Activision has released two new MW3 avatars for the event, the Special Ops Juggernaut and American Special Forces. Check out the online avatars that can help troops IRL on the Xbox Marketplace.
Activision donates $3 million to Call of Duty Endowment
We suppose when your latest product launches to the tune of $400 million in a single day, you can afford to be generous. Tucked away in the press release announcing the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launch day sales numbers, Activision also revealed its latest donation to the Call of Duty Endowment, which is devoted to assisting various veterans organizations. The company donated $3 million to the endowment, noting that it has previously donated $2 million and that the endowment has "provided more than $1.5 million in grants and scholarships to veterans' organizations across the country" since it was founded in 2009.
Metallica to serenade Call of Duty: Black Ops at launch event
Metallica will perform at Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops launch event on Thursday, where the band will help raise $1 million for The Call of Duty Endowment. The fund's mission is to assist soldiers transition back into civilian life and help them establish jobs and careers. According to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, the unemployment rate for veterans is 21% higher than the rate for all Americans, with over a half-million veterans unemployed. If you're looking to sneak into the concert, the event will be held November 4 at Santa Monica Airport's Hangar 8 ... though sneaking into an airport hangar post 9/11 is about as sure a way we know of to get yourself locked up. Also, that's very close to the location of that horrific Min-E3 of 2007 -- a memory that will haunt our dreams more than Nazi Zombies ever could.
Call of Duty Endowment donating $1 to veterans for every Facebook 'Like' it gets
To coincide with Monday's observance of Memorial Day in the US, the Call of Duty Endowment -- a non-profit charity established by Activision Blizzard to assist veterans with finding employment once they leave the service -- is partnering with Hire Heroes USA to provide the "career transition" operation with funding through a novel approach. The Endowment will give $1 to HHUSA for every user who "likes" C.O.D.E.'s Facebook page through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Monday, May 31, or up to $50,000, whichever comes first. This funding is on top of the undisclosed amount C.O.D.E. has already granted Hire Heroes USA. So far, more than 8,400 users have "liked" the page since the unique fundraiser began yesterday. If you've got a Facebook account, what's not to "Like" about this idea? Plus, it'll totally reestablish your cred after "liking" that one Justin Bieber page.
Call of Duty Endowment announces game dev scholarship for vets
The last we heard about those Call of Duty Endowment dogooders was last year when the group came into existence, announcing intentions of assisting US military veterans with getting work when returning home. But just last week, CODE announced a partnership with two colleges to support scholarship programs in game development for veterans. Both Austin Community College in Austin, TX and Madison Area Technical College in Madison, WI will offer assistance to veterans "with the costs of software, transportation, and other educational needs" -- while the GI bill is intended to cover the cost of tuition -- to the tune of four $2,500 scholarships per academic year at each school ($1,250 for part-time students). The criteria for receiving aid at each school is slightly different, though not entirely dissimilar: both require a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher in previous college work, to have been an honorably discharged veteran from the US Armed Forces and to demonstrate a financial necessity for the assistance. Applications are already open for the coming school year, the first of five years the program is scheduled to run (totaling $100,000 when all is said and done). Interested applicants are encouraged to apply for ACC here and MATC here. [Via GamePolitics]
Activision donates $100k from Call of Duty Endowment to aid wounded vets
Activision is continuing to help military veterans through its Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.), and, in a way, so are the patrons of its mega-popular war franchise. Today, C.O.D.E. announced that it will be giving $100,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project, for the purpose of establishing a fifth Transition Training Academy where injured veterans can receive training and pursue a career in information technology. Last November, the publisher pledged $1 million from sales of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 towards programs aiding military personnel in their return to civilian life, having made an initial donation of $125,000 to Paralyzed Veterans of America in the fall.
Activision establishing 'Call of Duty Endowment,' donating $1 million to war veteran aid
On the eve of Modern Warfare 2's official release, the game's publisher has announced intentions to donate $1 million to veteran-related charities through a newly created foundation. The "Call of Duty Endowment" (or simply "CODE") is said to "support other groups that assist veterans with their careers," reports the Washington Post. Though he's mostly known for facepalm-inducing hard business quotes, Activision head Bobby Kotick thoughtfully commented, "How do you expect people to actually join the military if when they leave the military they can't integrate back into the free market they're supposed to be protecting? The joblessness rate that [veterans] should have should be far less than the national average, not more." The foundation's first donation will be for $125,000 to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and will go towards the opening of a vocational rehabilitation center.
