OVERWATCH Players Raised $12.7 Million To Support Breast Cancer Research
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is proud to announce the success of the recent Overwatch charity campaign that allowed players to purchase a pink skin for Mercy, together with a cool shirt. Overall, Overwatch players who showed their support through their purchase was able to raise a whopping $12.7 million as an act of solidarity for Breast Cancer research.
BCRF also revealed that the $12.7 million raised by Overwatch players is the single largest donation by a corporate partner in the 25 years of the foundation's existence.
"Blizzard Entertainment's record-breaking commitment to activate change for women's health by mobilising the gaming community worldwide will have a lasting impact," said BCRF's chief strategic alliances officer Stephanie Kauffman in the foundation's blog post.
The donation will be utilized to help with "prevention strategies, improved treatments, survivorship, and quality of life for breast cancer patients worldwide."
Aside from the massive charity campaign, Blizzard also partnered with several Overwatch Streamers, who were able to bring in $130,000 for the campaign that lasted for two weeks.
In a statement released by Blizzard's CEO Mike Morhaime, he said that the foundation plays a vital role in supporting women's health. "I'm grateful to all of the Overwatch players around the world who made supporting such a good cause possible with their enthusiasm for the game and their generosity."
At the start of the campaign a controversy began when the pink skin was introduced with a price tag of $15, while the t-shirt for $30. However, Blizzard was quick to clarify that those items are being sold for charity and that the studio is making zero profit from the sale of those in-game items.