The brand new charity organization sponsored by actress Amanda Tapping and the team at Sanctuary has officially opened its doors! Sanctuary for Kids aims to raise money “to provide sanctuary for children who do not live with the right of safety in their lives.”

The organization was founded by Tapping, along with Sanctuary creator (and former Stargate SG-1 writer) Damian Kindler and Jill Bodie, a teacher and social worker.  Its goal is to leverage the show and the actors, and the generosity of science fiction fans, to raise money to then distribute to other charities that do work in children’s safety and welfare.

“Jill, Damian and I all felt a very strong desire and responsibility to do something with the reach and audience we have through the show Sanctuary and the sci-fi community,” Tapping said in a statement on the organization’s Web site.  “We didn’t want to waste the influence that the series has, or the meaningful connections we personally have made with so many people around the world.” (Read more about the concept from Amanda in GateWorld’s April 2009 interview.)

The organization has launched with the Nepal Orphans Home and Watari’s TTIP1 and TIPPY Programs in Vancouver as its selected destinations for donated funds. Additional children’s charities will be added in the future.

In addition to taking online donations, Sanctuary is offering special auctions to sci-fi fans.  Prizes include a visit to the show’s Vancouver, B.C. set and lunch with Amanda; Sanctuary memorabilia; a 20-minute Skype chat with Amanda, Damian, and executive producer and director Martin Wood; and the chance to name a character in an upcoming episode.

This first round of auctions will run from next Thursday, November 12 (starting at 9 p.m. Pacific time) until Sunday, November 22. Three such auction series will be held each year.

Tapping will also donate fundraising proceeds from this month’s GABIT convention in the U.K. to Sanctuary for Kids.

Visit the organization’s newly-launched Web site at SanctuaryForKids.org!  There you can learn more about the organization, where the money goes, and how you can donate.  You can also follow Sanctuary4Kids on Twitter for breaking updates.