A long list of items were stolen at the end of 2009 from Preston Kelly, but surprisingly, the Minneapolis agency couldn’t be happier with the theft. Players in the Preston Kelly White Elephant online game of strategy, luck and speed logged in to steal one of three dozen gifts more than 3,000 times.

Top stolen gifts included a Flipcam, Zhu Zhu Hamster, Twins tickets and a Nike Sportband. Players that couldn’t get their hands on favorite gifts ended up with a can of sauerkraut or an iconic White Elephant. White Elephant gifts included a Golf Bag Phone, a Real Toad Coin Purse, Handerpants, and Fundies.

For the second year, Preston Kelly turned the canned goods won by White Elephant participants into a cash donation to feed those in need. This year, participation in the Minneapolis agency’s White Elephant game resulted in a cash donation to Second Harvest Heartland equivalent to nearly 2,000 meals.

The White Elephant game is sent to Preston Kelly clients and contacts to celebrate the holiday season of giving. When creating the idea for the game, the white elephant, with its light-hearted, iconic, stature seemed to be a logical fit for the agency that proclaims the power of iconic ideas.

Once a player had signed in to the game, they were greeted with a new mobster screen name, such as Mitch the Snitch, Back Alley Bill or Miss D. Meanor. The game spanned the course of five days before Christmas, during which time online players could try to acquire or steal the gift they wanted.

The core intent of the White Elephant game was to thank and honor those Preston Kelly has created iconic ideas for, and with, throughout the year. Second Harvest Heartland was selected as the recipient for the donation based on its nearly 40-year commitment to the fight against hunger in the Twin Cities, Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.