Save the Children starts fundraising in Second Life
Howard Lake | 5 December 2006 | News
Save the Children is today selling virtual Yaks in virtual World, Second Life. It claims that its ‘Yak Shack’ in Second Life, where it sells yaks from its real world virtual or beneficiary gift catalogue ‘Wish List’, means that it is “the first UK charity to fundraise in Second Life”.
In fact Save the Children has already sold out of yaks in relief life, so the move to Second Life is certainly worth a try. Members of Second Life can either buy a virtual yak or donate to Save the Children.
Purchasers of the yaks will be able to milk, ride and knit a wooly jumper from their virtual yak. Yaks and their owners will return to the ‘Shack’ on 16 December to show off their individually customised yaks for the chance to win an interview in Second Life magazine.
Advertisement
Save the Children will be receiving donations in Linden dollars, the currency of Second Life. Yaks will cost 1000 Linden dollars (equivalent to $3.5) and all the money raised from the purchase of the virtual yak will be given directly to Save the Children’s Wish List scheme.
Chris Coe, Save the Children’s Product Development Director said “Save the Children is delighted to be taking Wish List gifts to the next level, by making them virtual…
“We recently sold out of yaks, but the Yak Shack means that people can buy yaks in Second Life in an experiential and truly virtual way, whilst supporting Save the Children.”
The concept and creative for the Yak Shak was delivered by Ogilvy Advertising. Kathryn Parsons, Channel Planner at Ogilvy Advertising said “Save the Children’s ‘Yak Shack’ will tap into a growing international community of young, creative and tech-savvy individuals.
“It is an ideal environment within which to raise awareness driven by its strong sense of community and shared values. Having researched and collaborated closely with the Second Life community, we are confident we have created something which will deliver the kind of experience which is true to Second Life, which its residents will appreciate and which will fundamentally raise money for Save the Children.”
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.