Every year, the GenCon gaming convention holds an auction on behalf of charity. In 2008, they chose the Christian Children’s Fund, as that was the favorite charity of one of the original creators of Dungeons & Dragons, Gary Gygax.
Alas, the Christian Children’s Fund declined to receive a check for $17K because they found out that (eek!) some of the money came from the sales of (gasp!) Dungeons & Dragons games and paraphernalia. (Yikes!) Evidently they didn’t know about Gygax’s hidden past when they took his donations over the years.
Of course, perhaps they didn’t want to turn down the “dirty money” per se, they just didn’t want their name associated with such a despicable and Satanic event. But in either case, evidently it was more important not to accept donations from the (their modern equivalent) of publicans and tax collectors and prostitutes on behalf of starving children around the world, than to let their own reputation be somehow besmirched.
(Hint to the Christian Children’s Fund: that’s called pride. Look it up, some time.)
Instead, the money went to the very worthy cause of the Fisher House Foundation, which “donates ‘comfort homes,’ built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times – during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. The homes are normally located within walking distance of the treatment facility or have transportation available.” Nice, and good to know that someone’s willing to accept a good will donation for a good cause.
(via DOF and Pharyngula)
See, this is why you don’t have the party member with a 6 Charisma present the donation.