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Clowning Around Charity Foundation, Inc.
Founded in memory of Humanitarian Bill Markham, creator of Milton Bradley's The Game of Life, with the sole purpose of sharing happiness and contributing to many deserving charitable organizations.
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Bill Markham was born in Oklahoma on January 16, 1917. He served during WWII in the U.S. Navy and then in the US Army Air Corps. He lost all six of his brothers during the war, four of them at Pearl Harbor. Being the sole survivor compelled Bill to persevere despite his family's tragedy. His interest in board games and a background in graphic design and advertising enabled Bill to create a game that was about real life.
In 1960 game company Milton Bradley released The Game Of Life and it became one of the most beloved and successful board games of all time. It has been enjoyed in many countries around the world and is prominently displayed at the Smithsonian Institution's collection on family life and popular culture. In his lifetime Bill invented more than 50 different toys and games distributed by Mattel, Lakeside, Hasbro, Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers.
Bill Markham passed away in 1993. His legacy and philanthropy live on through the efforts of his widow, Lorraine and the work of the Clowning Around Charity Foundation directed by Bill's adopted daughter Susan Garretson and her husband Robert.
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