The "Call of Duty Series" video games have topped over 55 million units sold and over $3 billion in sales.
For the November 9 release of Call of Duty: Black Ops, rock band Metallica was ‘called to duty’ to join with other celebrities for a benefit concert in Santa Monica, California helping unemployed veterans get back to work.
The concert, hosted by actor Zach Braff on Thursday, raised money for The Call of Duty Endowment fund and celebrated the upcoming launch of Call of Duty” Black Ops, the newest game in the video game line.
Activision Publishing Inc., the company behind Call of Duty video games, promised to help 1,000 veterans find new jobs and donated $1 million to The Call of Duty Endowment Fund, which provides training and job placement to soldiers making the transition to nonmilitary lives.
“Call of Duty is one of the biggest of all entertainment franchises that uniquely pays tribute to the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of those who defend our nation and our freedom around the world,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard. “It is especially popular among service members at home and abroad, which is why we are honored to have this event highlight the critical issue of veterans unemployment and make our own contributions to the cause.”
The Call of Duty Endowment began in November 2009 and focuses on giving help to other organization that aide returning soldiers with job placement and additional career training. Since it began, the endowment has given out hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship and grants to various schools and organization around the United States that are working to address the tough employment challenges of the nation’s veterans.