In a time where there are more stories about layoffs than there are about new game releases, it's good to see developers taking time to make a difference. Harmonix and MTV have announced that they have donated $50,000 dollars and 650 Rock Band bundles (over $100,000 worth) to the Starlight Children's Foundation. For those of you who don't know, the Starlight Children's Foundation is an organization devoted to helping sick children enjoy life to its fullest, and I can't say that these Rock Band bundles aren't a damn fine way to do just that.

The full press release is below, detailing the goals of the donation and the organization, and we applaud Harmonix and MTV for finding some funds to spend on helping those who need it.

HARMONIX MUSIC SYSTEMS, INC. AND MTV GAMES MAKE A DONATION TO STARLIGHT AND BRING ROCK BAND® TO THOUSANDS OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN

Harmonix and MTV Games give a minimum $50,000 contribution and more than 650 Rock Band® bundles in support of Starlight Children’s Foundation programs (LOS ANGELES) -- Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. and MTV Games are making a generous minimum $50,000 gift to Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring the power of music to children facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The partnership will allow Harmonix, the world’s premiere music video game development company and creators of Rock Band®, and MTV Games, publisher of Rock Band, to give Starlight children the chance to relax, enjoy and rock out to music in a fully interactive and social setting. In addition, more than 650 Rock Band® bundles have been provided to Starlight’s seriously ill children at its Great Escape™ family events and to hospitals around the country.

“We’re honored to work with Starlight, which has an amazing tradition of offering support to seriously ill children,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems. “We hope that our contribution will give these deserving families a new avenue to spend time together and enjoy great music.”

Paul DeGooyer, Senior Vice President of Electronic Games and Music for MTV Networks Music & Logo Group, added: “We’re very excited to be part of a program enabling Starlight kids and their families to rock out a bit through our placement of games in hospitals and at family events, facilitating once-in-a-lifetime getaways, and donations. It truly is a privilege to help Starlight and its mission.”

Beyond the monetary gift and product donation, the partnership will:

• enable select Starlight families to attend the Rock Band tour events,
• provide Rock Band bundles to Starlight families at Starlight’s Great Escapes family activities,
• provide Rock Band bundles to pediatric patients at select Starlight hospital partners, and
• provide Rock Band themed Great Escape family activities, which will be hosted for Starlight families by Harmonix and MTV Games.

Great Escapes (www.starlight.org/greatescapes) is a program created by Starlight to provide families with seriously ill children with a chance to spend recreational time together to relax, regroup and return home with a renewed sense of strength and hope. Great Escapes include movie screenings, trips to the circus, ball games, harbor cruises, mother-daughter makeovers, picnics, pajama parties and many more special activities. Starlight currently provides regular Great Escapes in more than 30 communities throughout the country.

The Rock Band themed Great Escapes will give Starlight children and family members a behind-the-scenes look at Rock Band, a chance to meet the game’s creators, a sneak peak at new content and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Related Articles:

Jack Thompson-signed GTA III Cover Art on Ebay

Baltimore Comic Con 08: The Kirkman/Bendis Debate Video

Non-profit group sending games to our fighting forces abroad