St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Charity Auction Coming Soon

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Charity Auction Coming Soon

Want to own a piece of Blizzard Entertainment history? After a series of World of Warcraft infrastructure upgrades, we’ve preserved the retired server blades that once hosted many realms in our archives. In the near future a selection of these blades will be made available for auction, and the net proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To find out more details and the auction schedule of available realm blades, please visit our information page. To be reminded via email when bidding starts, visit the Blizzard eBay page and select the realm or realms you are most interested in.

Q: What is this World of Warcraft server blade auction all about?

A: This charitable effort allows the community to own a piece of Blizzard Entertainment history. After a series of World of Warcraft infrastructure upgrades, we’ve preserved the retired server blades that once hosted many realms in our archives. These server blades will be made available for auction on eBay , and the net proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

Q: Who is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital?

A: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, is one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. Families never pay St. Jude for treatment and St. Jude covers the cost of food, travel and lodging for patients and a family member.

St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more around the world have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude — research that is shared freely with the global medical community.

Q: How much of my money goes to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital?

A: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive 100% of the winning bid on this auction less $50 for the actual costs for creation of packaging, handling, and insurance, any fee associated with the use of PayPal, and approximately 1% for the eBay listing fee.

Q: Is St. Jude Children's Research Hospital international?

A: Yes, children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for treatment, and thousands more around the world have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude — research that is shared freely with the global medical community.

Every year, approximately 160,000 children around the world have a diagnosis of cancer and St. Jude international partners are seeing a wide range of childhood cancers each year.

The International Outreach Program (IOP) at St. Jude aims to improve the survival rates of children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses worldwide, through the sharing of knowledge, technology and organizational skills. The IOP transfers the progress achieved in the treatment of childhood cancer in developed countries to those with limited resources.

In addition, through the International Visitors Program (IVP), dozens of healthcare professionals from around the world receive training at St. Jude each year that they can take back to their own communities.

Q: What is a server blade?

A: Each World of Warcraft realm is hosted on a number of server blades which cooperate to provide the processing power needed to run the game world. Each individual blade works within a group of blades, and together they operate a single World of Warcraft realm. Instead of being laid out in a traditional tower arrangement, as most home computers are, they’re laid out in a long and slender fashion so they can be stacked easily in more energy and size-efficient enclosures.

Q: Please describe this limited edition World of Warcraft server blade.

A: Each blade server comes with a commemorative plaque signed by the World of Warcraft team. Click here to see pictures of the World of Warcraft server blades.

Q: Is the server blade functional?

A: The server blade is not functional and contains no World of Warcraft or Blizzard-related data. It's a barebones server blade, and is intended as a unique collector’s item and not a piece of functioning hardware.

Q: How long does the auction last?

A: There will be a total of four weeks of auctions. Each week will contain a new set of World of Warcraft server blades for the community to bid on.

Q: Can someone on bid multiple World of Warcraft server blades?

A: Yes, there is no limit to how many World of Warcraft server blades someone can bid and win on.

Q: Do I have to pay for shipping?

A: Yes, winning bidders will have to pay for shipping.

Q: When will I receive my World of Warcraft server blade if I win won in the auction?

A: Barring unanticipated circumstances, the expected delivery time for items is 3-4 weeks after final payment is received and acknowledged.

Q: How will my World of Warcraft server blade be shipped?

A: Your World of Warcraft server blade will ship in a custom-fitted brown box.

Q: What if my World of Warcraft server blade is damaged during shipping?

A: If your World of Warcraft server blade is damaged during shipping, you will need to contact Kompolt customer service for assistance.

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Comments (50)

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Khultarn
Khaz'goroth
Khultarn
11/11/2011
Can't wait for info on when the EU servers are supposed to go back online to be auctioned off.
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Untoyou
Hellfire
Untoyou
02/11/2011
The European sever blades are going to be put back on ebay date not yet specified. The postage prices were way to high that why they were taken of. They are updating the prices of the postage.
http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/2868713122
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Drefg
Terokkar
Drefg
25/10/2011
Where is the schedule for the European servers? Only Malfurion appears on eBay and the European server list has been removed?
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Calibarra
Argent Dawn
Calibarra
17/10/2011
A question: I can understand that doing proper insured shipping and handling costs money (hey, I'm a goblin, we thrive on costs ... visit our neutral AH's !)

But, why does it cost just over US$ 100 to ship a US server to the EU, but it costs over US$ 300 to ship an EU server to the EU ?!?

Makes it quite a bit less attractive to even consider supporting this.
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Thombu
Khadgar
Thombu
18/10/2011
@Calibarra: Agreed, it makes no sense as to how it costs so much
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Darkworgen
Vek'nilash
Darkworgen
17/10/2011
Would be funny if in the future some super computer wiz does some crazy Movie kinda thing and travels the world to combine all the server blades into one big super computer and re-create WoW :P (i know they are inactive server blades but just think about it......XP)
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Himori
Ravencrest
Himori
17/10/2011
Anyone know why they haven't started yet even though it's already the 17th?
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Nelaalin
Defias Brotherhood
Nelaalin
17/10/2011
This is nice.
I thought however that they used hamsters and wheels.
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Shivà
Darksorrow
Shivà
17/10/2011
<3 ./Cheers Blizz
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Thefathom
Saurfang
Thefathom
17/10/2011
Respect!
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Elmurfudd
The Venture Co
Elmurfudd
17/10/2011
I think this is really really cool of Blizzard. I mean, they really don't have to do this, they could have just thrown the servers away. Also, the cynical people who are going: "Ah, blizz you suck, why do you need incentives to do charity work" are probably the people who hasn't done anything charitable ever.
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Diethelm
Argent Dawn
Diethelm
17/10/2011
I think you guys missed this, Q: Is the server blade functional?

A: The server blade is not functional and contains no World of Warcraft or Blizzard-related data. It's a barebones server blade, and is intended as a unique collector’s item and not a piece of functioning hardware.
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Eldéa
Ragnaros
Eldéa
17/10/2011
Good job, Blizzard. :)
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Thunderblizz
Quel'Thalas
Thunderblizz
17/10/2011
Hmm if i dont get Quel'Thalas i will bid on Kultiras too!
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Ipwnyou
Terokkar
Ipwnyou
16/10/2011
I think this is awesome! There are lot's of maniac collectors out there (including me) that would do anything for one of these. But I don't have any money at all right now, and the prices will probably skyrocket.

An idea though, Blizz. Why not give the owner of a server blade get a feast of strength on all oh his/her characters on said server? It doesn't give an advantage, so I don't see a problem. Or something else to be recognized, like a titel? I'm just sorry i won't get it.. :(
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Ucandoit
Silvermoon
Ucandoit
16/10/2011
@Ipwnyou:

YES EXACTLY, .... a title like "Ucandoit Owner of Silvermoon" that would be pro!!!!
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Dobedoda
Hellfire
Dobedoda
15/10/2011
Its a good course and all that, I donate to these sort of charities on a regular basis. But as far as am concerned there selling of there junk. They do not work so what the point hang the on a wall all something. Why do they not sell figures and goody bags, t-shirts that sort of thing on ebay to raise money. I think more people would be interested in those auctions than these.
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Olarum
Argent Dawn
Olarum
15/10/2011
I'm going to buy the Crushridge one, so I can SMASH IT
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Rhavaniel
Stormrage
Rhavaniel
16/10/2011
@Olarum: LOL
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Korruptive
Stormscale
Korruptive
16/10/2011
@Olarum: LOL [2]
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Derbanke
Deathwing
Derbanke
15/10/2011
my parents told me if i dont have anything smart to say, i should rather be quiet. so i will just be quiet on this one.
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Rottenbum
Kul Tiras
Rottenbum
15/10/2011
@Derbanke: They should have done more than that to be honest. I can't say what it is as I will most likely get a telling off from blizz :). But it's something that is illegal in Ireland
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Derbanke
Deathwing
Derbanke
15/10/2011
@Rottenbum:
if that is your honest opinion, then i think your parents should have done it with you. i think a screw in your head is missing.. the one that holds the other screws in place.
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Rottenbum
Kul Tiras
Rottenbum
15/10/2011
@Derbanke: Love ya also ;)
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Rottenbum
Kul Tiras
Rottenbum
15/10/2011
@Derbanke: Oh crap, I see what you are getting at now :S. I was talking about flame throwing. That is illegal to teach a child to flame throw in Ireland ^^
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Treeroy
Aerie Peak
Treeroy
15/10/2011
Permission to say "lolwut?"? I mean, this just seems a little random, Blizzard. A nice thought it can't be denied, but quite random.
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Rodox
Stormreaver
Rodox
15/10/2011
Yay they're selling something that cant manage the servers. MMORPG, a game that is supposed to be played in groups, crashes when there are enough players. And so they will ban people who are responsible for the grouping up even though it's their own fault.
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Conduras
Silvermoon
Conduras
14/10/2011
i guess everybody in Europe is healthy
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Darkchaos
Frostmane
Darkchaos
14/10/2011
Not too be rude or something but this charity action is not needed. If blizzard would give a % of there year income.
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Darkchaos
Frostmane
Darkchaos
14/10/2011
@Darkchaos: And i am still polite with this post. I could flame this topic even more.
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Boembox
Nagrand
Boembox
14/10/2011
@Darkchaos: Rofl man, just be glad they do this and shut your whiney !@# up. People like you are EXACTLY why this world to be so f*cked up.

And oh yes, we should be thankful you're being mild here..not. Let's see how much you care about WHERE the money comes from when one of your kids get's a deadly illness.
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Bluris
Executus
Bluris
14/10/2011
@Darkchaos: One company is nothing, now if everyone - like you - gave a fraction of your paycheck every month, there would be no poverty in the world.
But you, like everyone - me included - fails to do this. We have individuals that help, but it isn't the individual - or a single company - that will save the world, it would require everyone.

Now, we established that people aren't going to give things out of their own pocket, what Blizzard is doing is giving people an incentive to give money - just like they did with some of the pets.
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Shasla
Bloodhoof
Shasla
14/10/2011
Good to see some of the bigger companies showing a heart.
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Oskrilyth
Steamwheedle Cartel
Oskrilyth
14/10/2011
blizz reusing old stuff yet again? :P
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Imbasawrus
Skullcrusher
Imbasawrus
15/10/2011
@Oskrilyth: Oh.. I see what you did there :P
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Rakuel
Defias Brotherhood
Rakuel
13/10/2011
now, whit this old blizzard.. server... thingy, think of the possebileties, we can control det world..of warcraft XD
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Shogga
Ravencrest
Shogga
13/10/2011
Lol it doesn't even work.
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Ucandoit
Silvermoon
Ucandoit
16/10/2011
@Wängstèr: actually maybe it would work if u had the rest of the equipment to go with it
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Krypplingur
Auchindoun
Krypplingur
13/10/2011
as long as price wont go over 3800$ im game bidding on Trollbane server blade!
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Roguejantis
Neptulon
Roguejantis
14/10/2011
@Krypplingur: Im getting that one for 3801$