Blizzard donates $800,000 to Make-A-Wish

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization that grants all sorts of "wishes" to children with life-threatening medical issues, has received a hefty donation from Blizzard Entertainment. This week, the foundation said that the studio behind the Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo franchises raised $800,000 for its coffers.

According to the statement, Blizzard raised the money through sales of an in-game pet for World of Warcraft, its massively multiplayer online role-playing game with some 12 million subscribers worldwide. Specifically, Blizzard has donated 50 percent of sales for the $10 Moonkin Hatchling pet between November and December 2010.

Additionally, Blizzard welcomed two Make-A-Wish kids to its Irvine, California, development fortress on April 29, which has been dubbed by the foundation as "World Wish Day." The two kids and their parents were given an "exclusive learning experience" with the World of Warcraft development team, which included seeing how the game is made.

This isn't the first time Blizzard has donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last February, Blizzard donated $1.1 million to the foundation and welcomed 15 kids to its studio for a deeper look at World of Warcraft.

Blizzard is also involved in charitable works for the Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief effort. From now until July 31, gamers can purchase a $10 Cenarion Hatchling World of Warcraft pet and see 100 percent of the proceeds go to the American Red Cross' efforts.