GameStop Raises Record $1.2 Million for Make-A-Wish in May

GameStop's Make-A-Wish foundation charity drive for May, where shoppers could donate to the organization at the point of purchase, was a huge success, organizers say.

The Make-A-Wish foundation announced today that the in-store and online campaign raised more than $1.2 million, which will go toward helping grant "wishes" to children with life-threatening medical issues.

This wasn't GameStop's first year running a Make-A-Wish charity drive, but it was the first to include support from the retailer's subsidiaries like Game Informer, Kongregate, Spring Mobile, and Simply Mac.

By comparison, GameStop's Make-A-Wish charity drive last year brought in $300,000. The retailer's goal for this year was $500,000, which it easily exceeded.

“Our customers are simply amazing. Because of their generosity, GameStop collected more than $1.2 million during the month of May--setting a new record for in-store donations," GameStop CFO Rob Lloyd said in a statement. Lloyd is also a member of Make-A-Wish's Texas board of directors.

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.