GameStop Raising Money for Autism Awareness

Video game retailer GameStop has announced a partnership with autism advocacy group Autism Speaks to help raise money to benefit the organization and its efforts. For the entire month of April, which is Autism Awareness Month, GameStop and its subsidiaries will take part in a fundraising campaign for the group.

Customers at GameStop, Spring Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Simply Mac, and Think Geek retail stores will be asked at the point-of-sale if they would like to donate to the campaign. In a press release, GameStop said it will support this effort with "specialized in-store and online promotional materials." Additionally, GameStop will provide outreach efforts by way of its other subsidiaries such as Kongregate and Game Informer.

2016 marks the first year that GameStop has partnered with Autism Speaks. The company is not alone in the video game world, either, as Activision is raising money for Autism Speaks with new Skylanders toys.

"We are proud to partner with Autism Speaks this April," GameStop investor relations executive Matt Hodges said in a statement. "This partnership is extra special to the GameStop family. Many of our associates and customers have shared how the video game and technology products we sell have helped them have a meaningful relationship with their child who has autism. We look forward to a successful campaign and helping those families impacted by autism."

Everyone who donates $1 or more through the campaign will receive triple PowerUp Rewards on their donation amount.

"We are thrilled to see the world of gaming and technology embrace autism," Autism Speaks VP Peter Morton said. "We are grateful for this partnership since GameStop's campaign will raise awareness of autism across the country."

Specifically, the money GameStop raises will go towards Autism Speaks' Family Services iPad Grant program, through which financially disadvantaged children and adults with autism can get iPads. Since 2012, Autism Speaks has donated more than 4,000 iPads across the US.

Money raised in the campaign will also help fund Autism Speaks' research and science program. This "enables the development of technological advances that improve the health and quality of life for individuals with autism and their families."

GameStop is a big supporter of charities. In addition to this new campaign with Autism Speaks, the company has in the past raised millions for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, donated PlayStation 4s to Ronald McDonald Houses, and, in 2015, gave $1.2 million to Make-A-Wish.

You can learn more about GameStop's charitable efforts at its Social Responsibility page.