Zynga, Lady Gaga Donate $1.5 Million To Japanese Aid

Social game developer Zynga announced that pop music idol Lady Gaga donated around $1.5 million to its fundraising initiative for supporting relief efforts in Japan, adding to the $2.5 million it already raised through virtual good sales. Lady Gaga collected the $1.5 million through the sale of her Japan Prayer Bracelets to fans. Partnering with Zynga, the artist will donate the money to charity group Save the Children and the American Red Cross to help those affected by the earthquakes and tsunamis that afflicted Japan earlier this month. Two weeks ago, Zynga launched a campaign to support Japanese aid by selling new and themed virtual goods in its popular titles (e.g. CityVille, FarmVille), then donating 100 percent of the purchase price to Save the Children's Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund and other causes. So far, more players of the participating Zynga games have come together to raise over $2.5 million through the campaign. Facebook supported the initiative by donating the 30 percent cut it usually takes from all sales with Credits, the social network's universal virtual currency system for game/app purchases. "I'm inspired that my little monsters banded together to help those affected by the terrible tragedy," says Lady Gaga. "What Zynga's players have done for the cause is equally inspiring, and I'm thrilled to partner with them to raise money that will go to Save the Children and the American Red Cross."