The Pokémon Company announced Thursday that it will make a $200,000 donation to GlobalGiving in aid of Ukrainian people during the current Ukraine crisis. The company wrote in a statement on Twitter that “the growing crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, which continues to cause the displacement of families and threaten the safety of children, is heartbreaking.”
Our hearts go out to the kids & families of Ukraine 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/vsZuQtYmX6
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) March 3, 2022
The statement also outlines the details of the donation, which will go to GlobalGiving with the intent of distributing the funds to “community-led organizations supporting families and children affected by the crisis.” GlobalGiving, a partner of the Pokémon Company, currently has a donation page for the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which has raised over $5 million to “support humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine.”
This is not the first time the Pokémon Company has donated money in support of a social cause. In June 2020, after the murder of George Floyd sparked protests against systemic racism and police brutality across the world, the company donated $100,000 to the NAACP and $100,000 to Black Lives Matter.
#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/wOvXXYK6AW
— Pokémon (@Pokemon) June 3, 2020
The Ukraine crisis has had a profound global impact. Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in February, an act that has had consequences in many different areas, including the gaming industry. Other major publishers have responded as well. EA recently removed the Russian National team and all Russian clubs from FIFA 22, FIFA Mobile and FIFA Online as a means of calling for peace. Additionally, some Ukrainian esports professionals across games like VALORANT and Apex Legends are now unable to compete in ongoing tournaments.
