BioWare Toy Drive for Santa's Anonymous

By Chris Priestly Jan 8, 2003

Here at BioWare we are all basically big kids at heart. We work in an industry that makes games and we love toys. Many of us have toys, models, games and posters as decorations around our rooms. And we realize that at this time of the year it's really rotten to be a kid and not have a gift to unwrap. So with this in mind, BioWare designers Luke Kristjanson and John Winski, programmers Mark Darrah and David Falkner, audio lead Dave Chan and Quality Assurance's Evil Chris Priestly set out to do something about it.

Each year in Edmonton around the holidays, 630 CHED, a local radio station, collects toys to give to needy children as gifts during the holidays. It is called the Santa's Anonymous Toy Drive. Once again, this year, BioWare chipped in cash donations to go towards buying toys for the drive.

After repeated emails, reminders and pokes with the BioWare cattle prod by Evil Chris Priestly, BioWare staff contributed $1860 to go towards buying toys. With the donated cash in hand, the seven "Santa's helpers" set off for a local Toys R Us and proceeded to fill up cart after cart. "The people at the checkout stand were stunned when we told them it was all on the same bill," said John Winski. All together they managed to buy 186 gifts which were then driven to the Santa's Anonymous donation center.

Dave Chan, BioWare audio lead, said, "we've been doing this Christmas toy run for a few years now and it's something I really look forward to. It's like being a kid all over again. Knowing that a few more children will have something under the tree this year because of the people at BioWare that donate money and time makes me feel great."