Fundraising

Gamers for Giving is a fundraiser that provides entertainment devices to hospitalized children. Please consider supporting the cause by making a donation. 

Gamers for Giving 2021 is our 13th annual fundraiser in support of Gamers Outreach programs, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Since the founding of our event in 2008, Gamers Outreach has grown into a community of video game enthusiasts eager to make a difference for hospitalized children and their families.

Hospitalization can often be a lonely, isolating, and scary experience – especially for young people. We’ve seen it firsthand, and we’re doing everything we can to ease those burdens. Our intent is to inspire and heal patients through interactive play.

Our annual fundraiser, Gamers for Giving, is a celebration of gaming culture and the good we’re capable of doing together.

Through the years, we’ve had the opportunity to work with hospitals nationwide. We’ve noticed healthcare professionals face two primary challenges:

  • Many hospitals are not equipped with entertainment devices that make gaming content readily accessible to patients (e.g. consoles, controllers, monitors, games, etc.)
  • When technology is present, it can be difficult for hospital staff to manage entertainment due to a number of factors (unfamiliarity with equipment, existing responsibilities, ease of mobility, etc.)

Gamers for Giving generates funding in support of initiatives we believe help produce joy and minimize trauma for patients. Those include:

Project GO Kart: Gamers Outreach constructs portable, medical-grade video game kiosks called “GO Karts” (Gamers Outreach Karts). These kiosks make it easy for hospital staff to provide kids with bedside activities.

Each GO Kart is equipped with a gaming console, monitor, and assortment of games. The carts provide ensure kids have access to entertainment while they undergo treatment.

Player 2: Player 2 is a program where gamers have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they’ve acquired through gaming in a manner that supports patients and staff within hospitals.

By volunteering, gamers become “digital activity managers” and serve by managing equipment, providing tech support, and playing games with patients.

Many hospitals receive game donations, but without proper staffing to manage inventory at a mass scale, it can become difficult for tech donations to properly serve patients as intended.

Player 2 helps address this issue by ensuring knowledgeable individuals are present to distribute technology and exercise its positive benefits.

So how much progress have we made?

Five years ago, Gamers Outreach programs existed in ~7% of pediatric hospitals across the United States. Today, we’re maintaining an impact in nearly 90%. We estimate as many as 2 – 2.5 million play sessions are made possible thanks to our devices each year!

You can read more about the incredible progress our donors have helped pioneer in our recent annual report.

While we’ve made tremendous progress, we’ve got a long way to go before each hospital is fully saturated. We want to build a world where all kids have access to play without needing to wait their turn. That means providing the right type of devices, as well as the right quantity.

Additionally, we’re actively maintaining our existing presence. It takes resources to ensure hospital staff have the latest equipment and can request support if questions arise.

This year’s Gamers for Giving is another step towards realizing our dream: giving all hospitalized kids access to play. Funds raised will help us build a new batch of GO Karts. We’ll also be using resources to maintain our existing impact.

We need all the assistance we can rally to achieve this year’s fundraising goal. Here’s how you can help:

  • Fundraise: We’ve partnered with Tiltify to help you fundraise online. Through their platform, you can start a fundraiser, or even host an online stream broadcast to bring gaming to a hospital in your community. Launch or support a campaign under the Gamers for Giving event page here. You can find more of our streaming resources here.
  • Donate: Any amount helps! Donations can be made on the Tiltify page here.
  • Watch: We’ll be streaming the event during the course of the weekend. Check out our Stream Schedule for details!
  • Spread the word! Help share Gamers for Giving hype on social media! Sharing our cause with friends our promoting broadcasters can go a long way in building the conversation. Be sure to use our hashtag #GFG2021!

Gamers Outreach wouldn’t exist without ongoing support from the gaming community. The last year has been a challenge for all of us, but we’re committed to making a difference during this pandemic and beyond. Games are helping kids face isolation, and they’re a resource for hospital staff who are stretched thin.

We’ll see you on March 20th and 21st! Let’s help others level up!