Activision Blizzard today established the Call of Duty Endowment (CODE), a nonprofit public benefit corporation. CODE will focus its resources on assisting organizations that provide job placement and training to veterans, as well as engaging the media and public forums to raise awareness about the issue.

Activision created the organization with a commitment to donate and raise millions of dollars to help raise awareness of veterans' unemployment. Recognizing that today's release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is expected to be one of the biggest entertainment properties of the year, Activision chose to give back to veterans by using the proceeds from Modern Warfare 2 to fund the Call of Duty Endowment and raise awareness for this important issue.

Additionally, CODE announced a grant of $125,000 made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) organization. The grant will provide resources to help underwrite the cost of a new PVA Vocational Rehabilitation Services Center in Boston,MA. This PVA program offers vocationally-oriented services to veterans with disabilities, especially those veterans with spinal cord dysfunction.

"We embark on this effort as a grateful nation," said Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. "Business leaders have an opportunity to renew their commitment to the American spirit and to reverse an alarming trend of not recognizing the sacrifices made by the men and women of our military service."

CODE will have an active online presence through its website at www.callofdutyendowment.org to include resources for veterans and employers, recent news items, statistics about the issue and videos about the challenges veterans face."

Image: Scene from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Credit: Activision