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Activision establishes Call of Duty veterans grant

Modern Warfare 2 publisher reveals plans for $1 million Call of Duty Endowment to help unemployed military veterans find work.

The game industry is keyed into Activision Blizzard this week, as the publisher gears up to launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Already the most preordered game in both Activision's and GameStop's history, the publisher has with no uncertain swagger said that it wouldn't be at all surprised if the military shooter achieves the highest-grossing launch of any entertainment product in history.

With the mountain of money the game is on track to generate, Activision announced today that a portion of the proceeds from Modern Warfare 2's launch will go to an altruistic end. The Washington Post reports that the publisher has established the Call of Duty Endowment, a $1 million grant to establish a foundation for helping military veterans find work.

Activision is lending a helping hand to veterans.

Activision is lending a helping hand to veterans.

As noted by the Post, a 2008 Department of Veterans Affairs employment survey found that 18 percent of military veterans who left the armed services in the past one to three years are currently out of work. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 11.6 percent of people who departed the military since 2001 are unemployed.

"The joblessness rate that [veterans] should have should be far less than the national average, not more," said Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. "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? These are super-capable people. To the extent that you can put them on track to develop more skills, the development potential that we've identified is extraordinary."

Activision said that its first donation will be to the tune of $125,000, to be delivered to the Paralyzed Veterans of America foundation to help establish a vocational rehabilitation center.

194 Comments

  • shawise

    Posted Nov 11, 2009 7:54 am GMT

    BIG UP!

  • Amz1217

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 11:35 pm GMT

    well done Activision and IW

  • hannify

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:41 pm GMT

    @ f_river91

    Some people just are never happy...

  • athenian29

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 2:33 pm GMT

    @Tubesock1

    No, I compared Activision's *treatment* of veterans to treating them like beggars. Big difference.

  • f_river91

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:52 pm GMT

    its good to see someone helping out injured soldiers, but i think it should be a bit more than $1m.

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:46 pm GMT

    @athenian29
    First, no offense, but the fact that you're not out of HS yet explains a lot. I majored in Economics and achieved a Certificate in Business at the University of Wisconsin, which included coursework in both Finance and Accounting, and have been working in the real world since.

    That said, do you even honestly have any idea what you're saying when you talk about "huge amounts of capital"? What is your definition there? "Capital" is irrelevant. Profits are profits, simple as that. And they turned a small (based on size of their ops) $15 million last quarter, and $1 million is going to this fund.

    Also, I know you "don't have that kind of money." That wasn't my question, bud! Gotta pay attention! What I asked was do you give 7.5% of whatever money you have left over each month from initial expenses--like food, rent (which you don't even pay yet), etc.--to charity? Whether that's a million dollars or $5? OR do you put that towards videogames and the like? Again, 7.5% of your monthly PROFIT--so it doesn't matter how little that is because you do whatever you want with it. And I guarantee you don't, yet still criticize Activision for it.

    I could go on about the wild swings in business, too--look at EA's recent woes and the uncertainty of Act/Blizz's biggest cash cow (WoW) in China--but this is already too big of a message. Mainly: Take your own advice and learn about business before saying things that not only have no basis but also don't make any sense.

  • tiralif

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:26 pm GMT

    the ghost is gaz and price lived ive played the game

  • Kirky-

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:06 pm GMT

    Still not a fan of Kotick................... But this is a noble cause, and worthy of supporting.

  • meateater79

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 12:20 pm GMT

    I want to be sarcastic about the amount and how it's like a drop in a pool of profits, but at least it's something. I haven't heard any of the other publishers doing good works.

  • auron11022

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 12:15 pm GMT

    @ all the people saying this is nothing and just a PR stunt

    ummm... How much does square enix give to charity when they release a Final Fantasy game and make millions and millions of dollars. How much does EA donate when they make money off of Madden, The Sims, Dragon Age, etc...
    NONE. Even if it is less than 1% of the total profits, that is still infinitely times as much as other companies give in the same situation. Take your activision hate elsewhere, a good deed is a good deed, even if you don't like the entity that does it.

  • Paul_GameFury

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 12:01 pm GMT

    Those insulting Activision by saying this is a PR scam must have missed the recent news. Modern Warfare 2 is set to be one of the biggest selling games of all time. I'm pretty sure they don't need any schemes to boost sales. Maybe, just maybe, they realized they were about to make a crap load of money and thought it would be best to give something back to the people that inspired their game.

  • mattinavat

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 11:50 am GMT

    Well I wasn't going to buy the game before but I will now. Okay, okay, maybe I was going to buy it anyway but now I will for sure. Well, so I was going to buy it for sure, but now I'll still buy it for sure.

  • megamega777

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 11:33 am GMT

    seems fitting since remembrance day is tomorrow

  • OXM-Madman

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 11:13 am GMT

    Good for them. Even if it IS just marketing for MW2, at least they're helping out the troops.

  • FrankTheFrank

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 11:04 am GMT

    Wow, 1 million? Don't strain yourself there too much. You had what, 156 in profits? Less than a percent to charity. Hope you pull a muscle patting yourself on the back Kotick.

  • iucidium

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 11:00 am GMT

    Publicity stunt! Kotick, cancer will eat you alive

  • ShadowWolf220

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 10:45 am GMT

    PR or not PR, a good deed is still good even if done by a devil (not that Activision is evil or anything :-) ). It would be nice to see more of such contributions from game industry in the future.

  • peewizzle

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 10:33 am GMT

    activision = 2 thumbs up

  • darkspineslayer

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 10:19 am GMT

    so activision does still have some part of there soul. great to see some money from what ammounts to an exelent game and a huge title go to a great cause

  • stakex007

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 9:21 am GMT

    With all the money they are going to make off of COD:MW2 (except from us PC gamers that is) they need a tax write off... At least they are using a very very good cause.

  • Takeno456

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 9:08 am GMT

    I think this sounds like a great idea. Any time a company freely gives some of its profits to veterans benefit programs is a welcomed move.

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 9:03 am GMT

    @sirbobislost dumb comment man. really dumb comment

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 8:50 am GMT

    wow. activision is actually doing something good. nice to know they are going to help the main cast of most of their games(soldiers). so i cant knock them for that. just keep making donations kotick

  • tyzwain

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 8:45 am GMT

    In Britain last year we raised £30 million for our war vets. That combined with the profits Activision will get from MW2 - $1 million seems very little from a big corporation. However all goes to a great cause. Hoorah.

  • airsoftmanic

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 8:45 am GMT

    woah woah woah! did kotick actually say and do something "nice"?
    i think he must have spoken with god a few days ago. next thing you know he'll release DLC for free (or not)

  • unknownman25

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 8:03 am GMT

    Nice to see them giving some money to people who really deserve it.

  • zeniftan

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 8:03 am GMT

    Sadam Hussein made a hospital for his people while he was dictator. That dosn't stop him from being a very bad man. lol.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 7:59 am GMT

    wait....Bobby Kotick is being nice????

  • dragonfly110

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 7:52 am GMT

    wel at least theyre doing one thing nice for people, it really makes there evil image theyve had lately seem a bit less pronounced, plus its going to a good cause.

  • I_Pwn_U_n00bs

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 6:29 am GMT

    Who cares if its a publicity stunt its still going to a worthy cause...

  • rickster34

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 6:28 am GMT

    good onya Activision

  • MikeDecz

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 6:12 am GMT

    Nice... maybe they hire me?

  • Sirbobislost

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 6:10 am GMT

    Yeah it's a PR move but let's be honest no amount of bad press could Hurt this game so they didn't have to do anything but they did.


    I wonder if they will do the same for the next wow exp to help recovering addicts

  • ricardo-sene

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:48 am GMT

    good move... but i have just one doubt ..

    would they do this if the game would not had bad news in the media?

  • Mugen76

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:47 am GMT

    Complete and total PR move, and anybody who thinks otherwise doesn't know anything about Big Brother Activision. Even though I support the troops (my best friend is in Iraq right now), I don't support blatant PR moves. Bobby Ko-dick needs to shut up and start treating gaming like the art form that it is.

  • destroyeur

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:41 am GMT

    @buffdaddy69

    you said "Thats because Finland SUCKS and they don't pose any kind of THREAT to any country out there", seriously you are not even worthy of an argument.

  • Prosercunus

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:04 am GMT

    Even though I am still entirely pissed about the lack of dedicated servers for PC (this being the first Call of Duty for the PC since the first one I wont be buying)

    That being said I always gotta give props to anyone who gives money to veterans one way or another... even if its completely for press.

  • zonum420

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:00 am GMT

    I am still in, and I do commend Activision for this. Thanks, and my brothers and sisters thank you too. Can't wait for the game!

  • ukpet_anime

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 5:00 am GMT

    The military industry is something that gets too much flak for being "violent and destructive" by either the press (who always seem to paint everything in a scandalous light) or the general public who themselves have never or will ever experience the true horror of combat out on the front lines.

    Not enough consideration is given to those who have served, currently served and will serve in the armed forces of any nation in this small world. I feel an immense amount of pride for anybody, and I do mean every single individual who helps those who cannot defend themselves in times of war....and of peacetime itself.
    Because we owe them our lives.

  • coldsauce09

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 4:32 am GMT

    as long as COD has an "activision" label no for me..

  • jin-ro

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 3:29 am GMT

    well , very good cose ,respect for them and for vets

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 3:27 am GMT

    nice gesture, but they're getting plenty of positive publicity for it which would cost them waaaaay more than $1mil usually.

  • Wojcha

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 2:29 am GMT

    Activision.... Are you feeling alright....? Did something hit you on the head....?
    It's not like Activison is generous often.... I never thought i would say this... Thank you, Activison.

  • Darkman2007

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 2:28 am GMT

    while I admire an effort like that, its quite apparent thats its a marketing policy.

    no one does things for free, especially not a business, they want to look good in the eyes of the gaming (and non gaming) public.

  • RonTorque

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 2:11 am GMT

    That's a really nice touch from Activision. I totally salute you guys...Respect.

  • KittyHeart

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:45 am GMT

    passing along a tip

    military veterans get a small "bonus score" on government job exams

  • solidsnakeckw

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:23 am GMT

    activision just wanted the war veteran to get a job so they can buy activision's game. it's their conspiracy in order to sell their game to not only hardcore gamer and casual gamer, but to ex-military personnel all over america

  • SpacePirate6

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 1:18 am GMT

    Bet this proves to be good for business... One mil. is NOTHING though. They expect to make at least 300 million on launch day. I don't really care though, honestly. Im glad it's being done, as it will really help a handful of guys get back on track. Still though, don't let Activision fool you into thinking this is anything other than a marketing strategy.

  • Killingspree303

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 12:33 am GMT

    Sweet! Nice one, Activision. I hadn't expected that from you

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