World of Warcraft Trading Cards starter kit.
Never played a trading card game? Have no fear, the World of Warcraft Drums of War set has everything two players need to get started. Open up the box and start the PvP pwnage!  Bonus: if you have a character in Azeroth online, the random loot card could bring you one step closer to some new gear. You know your frost mage needs a new look before the next Darkmoon Faire.

THE superhero Role Playing Game, Mutants and Masterminds.
In this brand new second edition version, you get to create your own Superhero: the powers, back story, motivation, hey – even the costume. You decide if you want to fly, or have superstrength, or breathe underwater; any power you can think of, you can have.  And then off you go to thwart the evil masterminds bent on total global domination. This book will transform your world. Don’t worry, we’ll keep your real identity a secret.

Several gift cards for their shop (you know you need a new d20).

RedCap’s Corner is a rad new game shop in west philadelphia! Follow them on twitter to get updates on nightly events and tournaments!

Maybe you needed a laptop for high school. Maybe you didn’t have to carry around a 5″ or 3.5″ floppy disc for each class. Maybe you used one USB drive for your whole year’s worth of homework.

Ah, the first day of high school, when all possibilities were open. When notebooks and USB drives were empty spaces waiting to be filled.  Without them, you couldn’t pass your classes. Couldn’t remember all of the stuff you were supposed to. Couldn’t cram for that history test on the bus or at lunch.

So go to Staples, rummage through your desk drawer, raid the supply closet at your job, do whatever you can to grab a PACK of notebooks, pens, or pencils. Or grab that 1G USB drive you got at that conference 5 years ago, but that you now laugh at because your bluetooth headset has more memory. Bring it to TMoms on Thursday, April 2 for G2: Geeks Who Give Game Night to donate to the kids at Philadelphia Futures.

Because they need this stuff, too. They might even pass that history test, thanks to you.

What Futures does is match one student with one mentor, beginning in their freshman year. The student/mentor relationship continues until that student graduates high school. Futures provides academic support in the form of tutoring, SAT prep, college visits, advanced course work, and more.

The mentor just has to show up.

I’m only half kidding about that. You would be amazed at how much impact the consistent presence of an interested, involved adult can have on a teenager’s development. These are kids who go to some of the worst schools and live in some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country. Having an adult who offers consistent support and interest in their lives is a luxury very few of them have. The time commitment for mentors is one phone call per week, and one face-to-face meeting per month. That’s it.

Just think about it; that’s one less podcast per week, one less brunch per month.

And for the guys out there, Futures is desperately in need of male mentors. 60% of the drop outs in Philly are young men/boys. And in a city where many of these boys don’t have positive male role models, you bring an extra benefit to their lives.

If you can’t sign up as a mentor, then please consider volunteering to be a resource for the program. There is a digital divide right here in our city. All of these students are from low-income families with little or no access to the technology we all use every day and that most college-bound students have grown up with. Spending time with people who understand and use technology would be a tremendous learning experience for them. Consider making yourself available for interviews, job shadowing or offering internships. Or maybe we can have a Geek Career Day for these kids.

Apply now. They need at least 60 new mentors for their incoming class.

If you can’t mentor but are interested in getting involved in other ways, e-mail us at info [at] geekswhogive [dot] org and we’ll figure out how.