Microgaming has donated ?30,000 between four charities, voted for by the company’s customers and key stakeholders, in lieu of festive gifts.

Launched in 2013, Microgaming’s Gift of Giving campaign, a part of Microgaming PlayItForward, asks individuals to make their gift count. Presented with a choice of 12 charities across four regions, recipients can vote for one charity that they would like to receive a gift. The charity with the most votes from each region (Isle of Man, UK and Europe, Africa and Rest of the World) receives a gift of ?7,500.

Votes now counted, the winning charities for Gift of Giving 2015 are: Wish Upon a Dream (Isle of Man), CLIC Sargent (UK and Europe), Save the Rhino (Africa) and Cure Cancer Australia (Rest of the World).

Lesley Turnbull, Founder of Wish Upon a Dream, commented: “We’re over the moon to have received the highest number of votes for the Isle of Man region, and to be given a gift of ?7,500. Our charity grants the wishes of sick and terminally ill children living on the Isle of Man, and we are 100% independent; reliant on donations and fundraising. This gift will make a remarkable difference to several families on the island – we are very grateful.”

Rachel Kirby-Rider, Director of Fundraising at CLIC Sargent, said: “We are so pleased to have received the most votes for the UK and Europe and we appreciate every vote. This ?7,500 will help CLIC Sargent provide practical, financial, emotional and clinical support for children and young people with cancer, and their families. Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening experience and the implications are intensely challenging for the whole family. We aim to be there from diagnosis onwards, supporting them and helping them get the best of life.”

Josephine Gibson, Partnership Development Manager of Save the Rhino International, commented: “We are delighted to have been part of Microgaming’s Gift of Giving campaign and to have received the most votes for the Africa region. We really appreciate everyone who kindly voted for Save the Rhino International and to Microgaming for generously donating ?7,500. With rhinos facing extinction in the wild in just 10 years at the current rate of poaching, we really value Microgaming’s support in helping us protect rhinos.”

Floyd Larsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cure Cancer Australia, said: “Cure Cancer Australia is thrilled to again be chosen by Microgaming customers as a beneficiary of their Gift of Giving campaign. This generous gift will directly contribute to providing vital funds for innovative, ground-breaking research to Australia’s brightest emerging researchers across all types of cancer, and all areas of cancer research. Since 1967, Cure Cancer Australia has awarded 471 cancer research grants. Many of our Researcher Alumni have become leaders in their respective fields, and gone on to make discoveries and breakthroughs that are now saving lives around the world. It is only thanks to the support of organisations like Microgaming, and the generosity of individuals such as Microgaming’s customers, that Cure Cancer Australia can continue to support our research leaders of tomorrow.”

Claire Coleman, Head of Microgaming PlayItForward, added: “Over the past three years our Gift of Giving initiative has donated ?90,000 to 12 incredible charities across the globe. I never tire of calling the charities after the votes have been counted to let them know they’ve won – it’s so heart-warming. Congratulations to all of the 2015 winning charities, and thank you to all our customers that voted.”

To learn more about the Gift of Giving campaign and other Microgaming PlayItForward projects, visit microgamingplayitforward.co.uk.

Photo - Cheque presentation to Wish Upon a Dream (Left-right: Roger Raatgever (CEO, Microgaming), Lesley Turnbull (founder, Wish Upon a Dream) and John Coleman (Finance Director, Microgaming).