WildlifeWins, a for-profit enterprise based in South Africa, is serving up a unique conservation fundraising initiative for interactive gaming enthusiasts.
Its Web site, Wildlifewins.com, offers the opportunity to raise funds for priority conservation concerns by hosting Internet lotteries and other interactive games.
"We are really excited to have created a proposition that allows people to have fun while helping to save critically endangered species," said Steve Quantril, CEO of WildlifeWins. "By making it rewarding to support conservation, we give people a great reason to contribute on an ongoing basis.”
The projects currently underway are African Elephants, Golden Lion Tamarins, and Mountain Gorillas, which as just passed the $10,000 dollar mark.
Launched in September 2001, Wildlifewins.com has donated nearly US$25,000 to conservation efforts.
WildlifeWins hopes that giving visitors a chance to win a US$20 million lottery jackpot is incentive enough to play. The money accumulated from this jackpot goes directly towards saving the last 650 mountain gorillas on the planet.
"We may not be able to force everyone in the world to care, but we can provide an enticement to contribute by offering something in return," Quantril said. "Whether someone is interested in winning money or a trip to visit a project, our main objective is to ensure that wildlife wins, and we will use every strategy in the book to see that it happens.”
Visitors to the Web site can access WildlifeProjects, WildlifeLotto, and WildlifeDonations, which provide players with educational materials on the various causes, access to the lottery and other gaming as well as giving the player the opportunity to donate directly to the cause of his or her choice.
"As the company grows, we hope to unveil even more rewarding ways for people to give--including contests offering unique prizes such as a visit to our projects," said Michelle Ross, the group's communications strategist. "We are confident that providing such rewards we will be able to make a significant difference to the fate of critically endangered species around the world and we hope we can count on your continued support."
WildlifeWins is planning on launching a unique contest in October. The contest will be free to enter but is being hosted in conjunction with a drive for the mountain gorilla buffer zone (in addition to raising funds via lotteries and games, WildlifeWins accepts straightforward donations). The company is also exploring partnerships with skills-based gaming organizations to broaden its appeal to a wider audience.
The International Lottery in Liechtenstein Foundation, a charitable foundation that operates WildlifeLotto, the lottery component of WildlifeWins, is authorized and controlled by the government of Liechtenstein.