GameStop Aiming to Raise $500,000 for Make-A-Wish Next Month

Video game retailer GameStop on Monday announced new plans to support the Make-A-Wish charity this year by allowing shoppers to donate to the organization when they visit a GameStop store or shop online.

Starting May 1 and running all month long, people who shop at brick and mortar GameStop stores or through the retailer's website will be prompted at checkout with an option to donate $1, $5, or $10 to Make-A-Wish. If you decide to chip in, GameStop will give you a 10 percent off code code for your next pre-owned games purchase; PowerUp Rewards members, meanwhile, will receive triple loyalty points.

GameStop subsidiaries Spring Mobile and Simply Mac will also accept donations to Make-A-Wish at the register all month. In addition, GameStop's online games portal Kongregate will allow players to donate to Make-A-Wish.

Last year, GameStop raised about $300,000 for Make-A-Wish, while the retailer's goal this year is to do even better and bring in $500,000 for Make-A-Wish.

“We know the power of granting a wish to children in need and are honored to give our customers the chance to feel the joy in helping to make wish kids' wishes come true," GameStop CFO Rob Lloyd said in a statement. Lloyd is also a member of Make-A-Wish's board for its North Texas division.

The funds GameStop collects from its Make-A-Wish campaign will support shopping sprees for children facing life-threatening medical challenges. In 2014, GameStop granted some 335 "wishes." This year, GameStop worked with 12-year-old gamer Jahred Joyner, who has AGS leukodystrophy, to fulfill his wish.

He wanted to appear in a video game commercial, and GameStop and Make-A-Wish teamed up to make that happen. You can watch the commercial below.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization that grants "wishes" to children with life-threatening medical issues. World of Warcraft and Diablo developer is also a regular supporter of the Make-A-Wish foundation.