Avatars representing survivors, caregivers, their families and the millions of passionate supporters engaged in fighting cancer worldwide will take center stage virtually, July 19-20, when the American Cancer Society conducts its fourth annual Relay For Life® event in the Second Life virtual world. The 2008 Relay in Second Life will celebrate the “heroes” who epitomize the Society’s global mission and who represent this summer’s virtual world event theme.

I am getting ready for the Virtual World Community and philanthropy session I am co-hosting with Robin Harper of Linden Lab.  We both have been hard at work trying to get the whole of the virtual philanthropy explosion condensed into a great presentation.We are going to focus on answering a lot of questions.  Why should we invest in this community?  Why does virtual community matter?  Is it really possible to have philanthropic activity in a virtual community?  We  I am not going to spoil the answers for anyone ... you will have to come to the session to find out.

 I will however make a few general statements.  Virtual worlds are huge, population wise some are as large as major metropolitan areas of the USA.  The technology continues to be more immersive, and the advent of transferable currency has made it a viable venue for fundraising.  Considering these two factors alone virtual worlds are becoming a very viable place to hold philanthropy fundraisers as well as educational arenas for education.