Activision Partners With Autism Speaks
Activision and Autism Speaks Team Up to Support Kids and Families Affected by Autism
In a remarkable collaboration, gaming giant Activision and leading autism science and advocacy organization Autism Speaks have come together to support children and families affected by autism. This unique partnership is marked by the release of a limited-edition line of action figures, the Skylanders Power Blue crew, released in observance of Autism Awareness Month.
Highlighting the Cause: World Autism Awareness Day
In preparation for World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, this collaboration underscores the importance of supporting kids and families affected by autism globally. Autism is a prevalent condition, affecting one in every 42 boys and one in 68 children in the U.S. The partnership with Activision represents a significant first for Autism Speaks, marking the first time the organization has allied with a video game and toy.
Peter Morton, Vice President of Corporate Development at Autism Speaks, expressed the organization’s excitement about this partnership. “We’re proud to work with Skylanders, an iconic franchise that’s known for bringing joy and magic to kids and families,” he said.
The Power Blue Crew: A Special Tribute
The Power Blue crew is now available and features blue-and-white-colored Skylanders SuperChargers characters, including Splatter Splasher, Trigger Happy, Splat, and Gold Rusher. What’s unique about these characters is that they appear in-game with their special colors, a feature that is sure to delight fans. These characters retail at the suggested price of $12.99 for SuperChargers and $14.99 for vehicles.
More Than Just Toys: Activision’s Support for Autism
Activision’s support for autism extends beyond the creation of the Power Blue toys. Some of the ways they are supporting the cause include an employee-match donation program for Autism Speaks, encouraging participation in the Autism Speaks Walk on April 2 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, and making donations to non-profits that are making a difference in the autism community.
Bringing Awareness and Community
Matt Asner, Director of Corporate Development at Autism Speaks, spoke about the impact of this partnership. He shared his personal experience, saying, “When my son was diagnosed with autism, I felt very alone. From my first Autism Speaks Walk, I felt the power of community, and this partnership with Skylanders will bring awareness and belonging to kids and families in a unique way.”
Josh Taub, Senior Vice President of Skylanders Product Management at Activision, shared that, “Since the debut of the franchise, we’ve heard from parents that Skylanders plays a special role in the lives of their kids on the autism spectrum. The entire Skylanders team was deeply committed and proud to bring these special toys to life. If they can put a smile on a child’s face, then we know we’ve done our job right.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, the partnership of Activision and Autism Speaks represents a significant step towards supporting families affected by autism. Through the creation of specially designed toys and various fund-raising initiatives, both organizations are committed to bringing joy, awareness, and community to those dealing with autism.| | |
|—|—|
| Campaign | Light It Up Blue campaign for World Autism Awareness Day |
| Collaboration | Activision and Autism Speaks |
| Purpose | Support kids and families affected by autism |
| Product | Limited edition action figure line – the Skylanders Power Blue crew |
| Characters in Power Blue Crew | Splatter Splasher, Trigger Happy, Splat, Gold Rusher |
| Retail Price | $12.99 (SuperChargers), $14.99 (vehicles) |
| Additional Support | Employee-match donation program for Autism Speaks, participation in the Autism Speaks Walk, donations to non-profits that support the autism community |
| Autism Statistics | Affects 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 68 children in the U.S. |
| Quoted | Peter Morton (VP of Corporate Development at Autism Speaks), Matt Asner (Director of Corporate Development, Autism Speaks), Josh Taub (SVP of Skylanders Product Management, Activision) |
Activision and Autism Speaks: A Unique Partnership
In an industry first, global interactive entertainment giant Activision has teamed up with Autism Speaks, the world’s largest autism advocacy organization, to raise awareness and support for families impacted by autism. This unique collaboration is the first time that Autism Speaks has worked with a video game and toy company, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s history.
Why Activision?
Activision’s involvement is particularly notable given its significant reach and influence in the gaming industry. The company is a leading global producer of interactive entertainment, with popular franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Skylanders. Their partnership with Autism Speaks shows a commitment to leveraging their platform for social good, and can potentially reach millions of gamers worldwide.
The Skylanders Power Blue Crew: More Than Just Toys
As part of the collaboration, Activision launched a limited-edition line of action figures, the Skylanders Power Blue crew. These special characters were released in observance of Autism Awareness Month and are designed to promote understanding and acceptance of autism. The Power Blue crew features blue-and-white-colored Skylanders SuperChargers characters, including Splatter Splasher, Trigger Happy, Splat, and Gold Rusher. These characters are not only visually appealing, but they also appear in-game with their unique colors.
Activision’s Further Initiatives for Autism Support
But Activision’s support for autism doesn’t stop at these special edition toys. The company has shown further commitment to the cause through various initiatives. For instance, Activision has implemented an employee-match donation program for Autism Speaks, encouraging its employees to contribute to the organization. Additionally, the company supports participation in the Autism Speaks Walk, a major fundraising event for autism awareness.
The Impact of the Partnership
This partnership between Activision and Autism Speaks has the potential to make a significant impact on autism awareness and support. It’s not just about selling toys or games, but about creating a sense of community and understanding for families affected by autism. Matt Asner, Director of Corporate Development at Autism Speaks, spoke about the impact of this partnership, saying that it brings awareness and a sense of belonging to kids and families in a unique way.
FAQs
What is Autism Speaks?
Autism Speaks is a leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to promoting solutions for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy, research, and support.
What is the Skylanders Power Blue Crew?
The Skylanders Power Blue Crew is a limited-edition line of action figures released by Activision in collaboration with Autism Speaks. These characters are blue-and-white-colored Skylanders SuperChargers characters, designed to promote autism awareness.
How else is Activision supporting Autism Speaks?
Besides the Skylanders Power Blue Crew, Activision has implemented an employee-match donation program for Autism Speaks, encourages participation in the Autism Speaks Walk, and makes donations to non-profits that are making a difference in the autism community.
Conclusion
The partnership between Activision and Autism Speaks is a groundbreaking initiative that leverages the power of gaming for social good. Through specially designed toys and various fundraising initiatives, both organizations are committed to raising awareness and providing support for families dealing with autism. This partnership not only represents a significant step forward in autism advocacy but also demonstrates how corporations can use their platforms to make a meaningful difference.
1.
What is the partnership between Activision and Autism Speaks?
Activision and Autism Speaks have collaborated to support children and families affected by autism. This partnership is marked by the release of a limited-edition line of action figures, the Skylanders Power Blue crew, released in observance of Autism Awareness Month.
2.
What is the Skylanders Power Blue crew?
The Skylanders Power Blue crew is a limited-edition line of action figures released by Activision in collaboration with Autism Speaks. The characters include Splatter Splasher, Trigger Happy, Splat, and Gold Rusher, all colored blue and white in observance of Autism Awareness month.
3.
What is special about the Skylanders Power Blue crew?
What’s unique about these characters is that they appear in-game with their special colors, a feature that is sure to delight fans.
4.
What is the cost of the Skylanders Power Blue crew?
These characters retail at the suggested price of $12.99 for SuperChargers and $14.99 for vehicles.
5.
How else is Activision supporting Autism Speaks?
Activision’s support for autism extends beyond the creation of the Power Blue toys. They are also supporting the cause through an employee-match donation program for Autism Speaks, encouraging participation in the Autism Speaks Walk, and making donations to non-profits that are making a difference in the autism community.
6.
What is the impact of the Activision and Autism Speaks partnership?
This partnership aims to bring awareness and community to families affected by autism. Through the creation of specially designed toys and various fund-raising initiatives, both organizations are committed to bringing joy, awareness, and community to those dealing with autism.
7.
When is World Autism Awareness Day?
World Autism Awareness Day is on April 2. This collaboration between Activision and Autism Speaks underscores the importance of supporting kids and families affected by autism globally.
8.
Who are some of the people involved in this partnership?
Peter Morton, Vice President of Corporate Development at Autism Speaks, and Josh Taub, Senior Vice President of Skylanders Product Management at Activision, have both expressed their excitement and pride in this partnership.