The Haunted House Association (yes, one exists) estimates that more than 1,000 spooky mansions are donating a portion (or all) of their profits to charity. When we read that, we grinned and then our knees wobbled at the thought of reuniting with Stephen King‘s It or the likes of Freddy Krueger. But if actors are willing to slather fake blood and guts on themselves for free every night of October, we can certainly pony up $15 and brave a haunted house or two — it’s for charity, after all.
If you’d like to join us, here are our top five favorite charitable haunts. We hope to hold your hand while walking through them for a cause.
1. Which Is Scarier: The Steelers Defense or Hundred Acres Manor?
Since 2004, this Pittsburgh haunt has terrified guests. The Hundred Acres Manor spans 7,500 square feet and 60 rooms — and 100 percent of its profits go to Animal Friends and The Homeless Children’s Education Fund. The actors are all volunteers, and a few local celebrities take part in the frightening ordeal. In 2009, the company hosted Steelers Players Night, and footballers Hines Ward, Max Starks and their teammates chased visitors with chainsaws.
“People are really excited to support both their Steelers and give money to a good cause,” said Ted Sobek, executive director of Funds for Charities, the organization behind the haunt. “Whatever day of the week it is.”
This year, the Hundred Acres Manor hopes to raise $2 million for the animal rescue center and the scholarship fund.
2. Morbid Manor: Don’t Be Afraid to Donate.
Also in 2004, an Arizona family lost their grandfather to Alzheimer’s and heart diseases. They also lost their 15-year-old family friend in a car accident. For the past five years, they’ve scared friends, neighbors and anyone else who dares to enter their home with proceeds going to finding a cure and to the Ryan McBride Memorial Music Fund. In 2007, they extended their charity reach to helping the state’s veterans. Last year, they raised more than $2,250. If you’d like to be frightened for a cause, visit their Glendale home.
3. Locked Up in the Loony Bin.
Psych wards have long had a bad reputation, mostly since doctors didn’t quite understand mental illness back in the day, and used inhumane treatments that they thought were helping their patients. In 1979, Toronto shut down the Lakeshore Psychiatric Centre. Today, it’s a haunted house. We know, Yikes!
“The building itself was built by the patients of the asylum and this one building was used as the powerhouse of the entire area,” real estate agent Lorne Andrews, the creator of the Powerhouse of Terror, told the Toronto Sun. “It’s been named one of the top three haunted places in Ontario.”
But what makes it worth enduring the anxiety of knowing that not just ghosts, but mentally sick in the head ghosts, may be lurking around every corner in addition to actors whose main job is to make you wet your pants in fright? All of the money goes to the SickKids Foundation. Their goal is to bring in $10,000 by Halloween.
4. Forget the Haunted House. This Entire Block Is Haunted!
We’re not sure how it’ll up real estate values, but this California neighborhood is spookin’ up their street in an effort to feed the hungry. Since 2006 (save for one year when organizer Patti Cary was out of town), Alameda’s Haunt Your House competition has made a seemingly peaceful block resemble Elm Street. Their motivation in years past was just sheer fun (and keeping up with the Joneses), but this year, they’ve added a kindness caveat: Every house will accept donations for the Alameda Food Bank. The entry fee to the contest is 10 food items, and the winner of the 2010 competition gets a variety of prizes donated by local businesses. You have until Oct. 25 to enter, so click here before time runs out!
5. Breast Cancer Is More Frightening Than a Botched Boob Job.
Central Texans have come together year after year for Scare for a Cure. In 2007, they raised $5,000 for breast cancer research. A year later, that number doubled and went toward scholarships for four students affected by breast cancer. In 2009, the team of volunteer actors and set makers raked in $15,000 for the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas. This year, the nonprofit has brought together more than 300 people to freak you out in every way possible, but when you’re running for your life, remember that every 69 seconds, someone dies of breast cancer. It might make you run faster.
Photo 1 by sticviews.com via Flickr; Photo 2 by jronaldlee via Flickr.