New fundraising game

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 14, 2011 — A new and addictive trivia game from the Webby-honored government blog OhMyGov.com gives people the power to save lives as they engage in one of America’s favorite pastimes: wasting time on the Internet.

The “Real or UnReal” game (http://ohmygov.com/pages/realunreal.aspx) presents factoids taken from breaking news, political history, science and technology, and the strange-but-true stories of government that OhMyGov is known for, and asks readers to cast their vote: Are they Real or UnReal? For every correct guess, OhMyGov donates funds to its charity partner, Blood:Water Mission, to provide one day’s worth of safe drinking water for a child in Africa.

Already, during the game’s pilot phase, over 10,000 days of safe drinking water have been earned — the equivalent of 23 years. Correct clicks turn into dollars donated by OhMyGov, which go directly toward projects by Blood:Water Mission to reduce disease and provide a hopeful future by giving communities access to safe, potable water.

Real or UnReal is entirely web-based and can be played on a variety of devices, including iPads and iPhones — perfect for spicing up long commutes, waiting-room delays, and dull office meetings. The animated game features a water truck that fills up with every correct click, and a calendar marking off your progress toward a month of safe, clean water.

“People get tremendous satisfaction from helping those in need, but let’s be honest, they also love procrastinating on the Web — so we decided to combine the two and make it easy to support a good cause,” said OhMyGov.com co-founder and executive editor Mark Malseed. “By playing Real or UnReal a few minutes a day and sharing the link with friends, anyone can help to make safe drinking water a reality.”

OhMyGov’s charitable partner, Blood:Water Mission, has provided locally relevant water solutions to over 600,000 people in 11 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 2005 by the GRAMMY Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, Blood:Water Mission has worked with over 1000 local communities to construct wells, rehabilitate springs, and promote rain tanks.

“As a grassroots organization, we are fueled by the passions and creativity of others to impact the lives of our friends in Africa,” explains Mike Lenda, US Programs Director for Blood:Water Mission. “Real or UnReal invites those who enjoy the challenge of putting their knowledge to the test to creatively make a real difference in the lives of others.”

On the Web: http://ohmygov.com

On Twitter: @ohmygov


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This press release is reprinted by Alanna Shaikh out of an obscure sense of guilt. It does not represent the opinions of Alanna Shaikh or any of her employers.