Microsoft donates 200 Kinect units to children's hospitals

Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario was the site of a celebration of five years of cooperation between Microsoft and the Children’s Miracle Network today. The two organizations are behind the Child Life Interactive Computers for Kids (CLICK) program, and this marked the fifth year of Microsoft donating high-tech toys to the 14 hospitals in the Children’s Miracle Network.

Laureen Harper [pictured], the wife of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, was the guest of honour at today’s event, which saw the donation of 200 Kinect units for Xbox 360, which joined the tablet PCs, software, digital cameras, printers, webcams and Xbox 360 consoles donated previously for sick children and visiting families to use.

"Thanks to CLICK, we've seen children light up during what could have been very dark times. Microsoft Canada's donations have enabled our patients to have a greater sense of normalcy by being more connected to their friends and family," said Maureen Jones, child life specialist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. "We know that the power of play has an incredible impact on children and parents, through both treatment and recovery. In the past five years, CLICK has delivered remarkable results, and we look forward to exciting new opportunities for play with Kinect."

You can find out more about the CLICK program here.