If you don’t know much about military veteran suicide rates, you might not realize that it is a constant and real problem. K9s For Warriors is a charity program designed to tackle both the very real PTSD and suicide risks for veterans as well as the hundreds of thousands of shelter dogs euthanized every year by pairing up veterans and shelter dogs to help support both pets and owners. It is a very, very good thing, and World of Warships developer Wargaming.net is making a point of supporting it ahead of Veteran’s Day starting with a $10,000 donation to the charity… plus more for player participation.
“In honor of Veterans Day, Wargaming, the publisher and developer of the world’s leading naval battle MMO World of Warships, is proud to celebrate the brave men and women of the U.S. military by supporting K9s For Warriors, with exclusive rewards for Veterans, new commanders coming to the game, and a fun dog photo contest. To recognize the heroes of military forces, Wargaming is donating $10,000 to K9s For Warriors to fund the training of a Service Dog for a Veteran in need.”
Players who post on Twitter with a picture of their dogs and a specific hashtag will be eligible to win an in-game Black Friday item pack, and for every such post on social media Wargaming.net will add another $5 to its donation up to an additional $10,000. So it raises awareness, gives you a chance to win items, and increases the donation to the charity. And everyone gets to see your furry friend in the process. Everybody literally wins here.
Additionally, Wargaming is launching what it’s calling World of Warships Salute, specifically for active duty military and vets.
“In partnership with ID.me, this program provides exclusive rewards for military members,” the studio says. “Players who have a valid Military ID will be able to link their Wargaming account to ID.me and will acquire the premium US Cruiser Albany and DD-214 Destroyer, with an exclusive Combat Veteran Permanent Camouflage, and exclusive Military Veteran flag. The DD-214 was chosen because of the real USS Tracy, a Clemson class destroyer, but also for being the famed circular name for the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.”
We're supporting @k9sforwarriors during @mcon.live, largest provider of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD! Join our charity raffle by sharing a pic of your dog with #Ships4Pups. Each post adds $5 to our fund.
Donate: https://t.co/8ZZNuZGBaG
Raffle Info: https://t.co/VFhhFl4dOh pic.twitter.com/iLp6G9lGq4— World of Warships (@WorldofWarships) October 27, 2024
