Zynga begins Japan quake charity drive

Zynga has begun a new charity initiative to help children affected by the devastating tsunami that has swept across Japan.

The firm is introducing donation options within games such as CityVille, FarmVille, Zynga Poker, FrontierVille and Words with Friends.

These games will have donation buttons appear as people purchase Facebook credits. The money, Zynga said, will be given to the Save the Children charity.

Following the destructive earthquake that struck Haiti last year, Zynga was able to donate over $1.5 million through the same initiative.

Save the Children has established its own Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children Emergency Fund.

“We are grateful to Facebook for joining us in this effort by donating Facebook Credits through the games to support the fundraising efforts,” Zynga said in a statement.

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Sega and Sports Interactive will throughout the week donate all revenues of the Football Manager 2011 app to a Japan disaster relief fund.