Generation Cures and Game for Good challenge

Are you looking for a new, less time-consuming ways to support your traditional family fundraising initiatives?.

Generation Cures is a non-profit organzation that was founded by was created Children’s Hospital Boston, a global leader in pediatric research.  The goal was to find an innovative way to educate kids from 8-12 about caring and compassion.  The other primary goal is to raise money for pediatric research.  Kids represent 20 percent of the U.S. population, but only a fraction of the US national research funding is allocated to pediatric illnesses. There simply isn't enough government funding AND overall funding to find cures and better therapies for illnesses, and particularly pediatric illnesses. 

Children's wants to change this - Through Generation Cures they have created a safe online experience that offers free, educational digital content to kids and their families. The goal is to teach kids the importance of caring and the importance of making a difference in “kid terms”.  The site is designed to be fun and in lingo kids understand and think is "cool".  It also teaches kids about science and medicine (future doctor in anyone's family possibly?)

Here are summaries of the digital content on the site:

· Zebrafish: Animated webisodes tell the story of a quirky group of kids who join a band. Each child joins for personal reasons, but when one of the band members falls ill, the kids are united by a common goal.

· Caduceus: Transported to the mythical land of Alterica, children play a series of online puzzle-adventure games in their quest to find a cure for a deadly virus. Assuming the role of healers, players explore what it’s like to be both a research scientist and a doctor. At the same time, they test their skills of logic, reason and creativity.

· Kid Vids: Generation Cures gives tween viewers an inspiring glimpse into the world of real-life kids who have been successfully treated at Children’s Hospital Boston. Directed and produced by the kids, these videos give a real face to childhood diseases and the patients who overcome them.

· Family Features: Parents can track their child’s progress through the site's stories and games.  The “Parent and Email Option" provides optional email alerts with details about the site's philanthropic, scientific and medical content and suggested questions to spark a healthy family dialogue.

Generation Cures also recently launched the nation’s ever Game for Good game-a-thon. (runs through 06/14/2009).  The 8 week game-a-thon gives participants the opportunity to raise money for pediatric research by playing Caduceus. Just like securing sponsors for each mile completed in a walk-a-thon, participants in the Game for Good challenge can raise money for each Caduceus level completed (five in all).

Generation Cures also currently has a fun poster contest for kids.  Miss N.com (As I call her) is registered and ready to have fun!