The gift that keeps on giving: Microgaming donates £30,000 in lieu of festive gifts

Microgaming has donated £30,000 between four charities, voted for by the company’s customers and key stakeholders, in lieu of festive gifts.

Launched in 2013, Microgaming’s Gift of Giving campaign, a part of Microgaming PlayItForward, asks individuals to make their gift count. Presented with a choice of 12 charities across four regions, recipients can vote for one charity that they would like to receive a gift. The charity with the most votes from each region (Isle of Man, UK and Europe, Africa and Rest of the World) receives a gift of £7,500.

Votes now counted, the winning charities for Gift of Giving 2015 are: Wish Upon a Dream (Isle of Man), CLIC Sargent (UK and Europe), Save the Rhino (Africa) and Cure Cancer Australia (Rest of the World).

Lesley Turnbull, Founder of Wish Upon a Dream, commented: “We’re over the moon to have received the highest number of votes for the Isle of Man region, and to be given a gift of £7,500. Our charity grants the wishes of sick and terminally ill children living on the Isle of Man, and we are 100% independent; reliant on donations and fundraising. This gift will make a remarkable difference to several families on the island – we are very grateful.”

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Director of Fundraising at CLIC Sargent, said: “We are so pleased to have received the most votes for the UK and Europe and we appreciate every vote. This £7,500 will help CLIC Sargent provide practical, financial, emotional and clinical support for children and young people with cancer, and their families. Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening experience and the implications are intensely challenging for the whole family. We aim to be there from diagnosis onwards, supporting them and helping them get the best of life.” 

 

Josephine Gibson, Partnership Development Manager of Save the Rhino International, commented: “We are delighted to have been part of Microgaming’s Gift of Giving campaign and to have received the most votes for the Africa region. We really appreciate everyone who kindly voted for Save the Rhino International and to Microgaming for generously donating £7,500. With rhinos facing extinction in the wild in just 10 years at the current rate of poaching, we really value Microgaming’s support in helping us protect rhinos.”

Floyd Larsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cure Cancer Australia, said: “Cure Cancer Australia is thrilled to again be chosen by Microgaming customers as a beneficiary of their Gift of Giving campaign. This generous gift will directly contribute to providing vital funds for innovative, ground-breaking research to Australia’s brightest emerging researchers across all types of cancer, and all areas of cancer research. Since 1967, Cure Cancer Australia has awarded 471 cancer research grants. Many of our Researcher Alumni have become leaders in their respective fields, and gone on to make discoveries and breakthroughs that are now saving lives around the world. It is only thanks to the support of organisations like Microgaming, and the generosity of individuals such as Microgaming’s customers, that Cure Cancer Australia can continue to support our research leaders of tomorrow.”

Claire Coleman, Head of Microgaming PlayItForward, added: “Over the past three years our Gift of Giving initiative has donated £90,000 to 12 incredible charities across the globe. I never tire of calling the charities after the votes have been counted to let them know they’ve won – it’s so heart-warming. Congratulations to all of the 2015 winning charities, and thank you to all our customers that voted.”

To learn more about the Gift of Giving campaign and other Microgaming PlayItForward projects, visit microgamingplayitforward.co.uk.

-ENDS- 

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For further information please contact:

Microgaming Press Office

T: +44 (0) 1624 647777

E: pressoffice@microgaming.co.uk

About Microgaming PlayItForward (microgamingplayitforward.co.uk)

Microgaming PlayItForward was established in 2014 by world-leading software developer, Microgaming, which is headquartered on the Isle of Man. The initiative encompasses all aspects of the award-winning technology company’s longstanding CSR programme, focusing on health, sport, education, charity and community both at home and abroad. This includes the independent Microgaming Health & Care Trust, which has been supporting Manx-registered charities and local health and social care projects since 2002.

About Microgaming (microgaming.co.uk)

Microgaming developed the first true online casino in 1994. It has been breaking records, breaking new ground and breaking its back in pursuit of original gaming ever since. Developer of thousands of unique, genre-defining casino, mobile, poker, bingo, land-based and multiplayer games, and a pioneer in wearable gaming, the software giant hosts the world’s largest progressive jackpot network. Its products include Live Dealer, Sportsbook, Business Solutions and Quickfire. Microgaming is an award winner. A millionaire maker. The father of player protection and responsible gaming. And through Microgaming PlayItForward, it is a pillar of its local community on the Isle of Man.

About Save the Rhino International

Save the Rhino International is a UK registered charity with a vision of all five species of rhino thriving in the wild for future generations. They work towards this goal by collaborating with partners to support endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. Save the Rhino International supports 19 field programmes across Africa and Asia and helps to fund a wide range of activities needed to protect rhinos in the wild. These activities include anti-poaching and monitoring patrols, environmental education, translocations, captive breeding, capacity building, community conservation and activities to reduce the demand for rhino horn. To find out more please visit www.savetherhino.org (UK registered charity 1035072).

About Cure Cancer Australia

Cure Cancer Australia is dedicated entirely to funding early career researchers. We identify, assess and fund the research we believe has the best possible chance of finding a cure. Most importantly, we fund research for ALL cancer types and ALL areas of cancer research. Statistically, today 330 Australians will be told they have cancer. That’s one Australian every four minutes.

We can change this, but only through research. Currently, less than 1 in 5 Australian research projects receive funding. Australia boasts some of the smartest scientists and medical researchers in the world, and we know that these brilliant minds have the answers – and cures – if given the chance to do their research work.

That’s why Cure Cancer Australia was founded almost 50 years ago.  Today we’re more passionate than ever to play our part in ridding the world of all cancers by funding Australia’s next generation of cancer researchers.

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