Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the beginnings of Gamers Outreach? What were the motivations of creating an organisation focused on helping hospitalised children?Certainly! And first off, thanks for supporting our work in hospitals. We’re big fans of GOG and excited to see the impact the community will have.Gamers Outreach was started while I was a high school student. I developed an interest in hosting video game competitions. One of my events, a Halo 2 tournament, got shut down by a police officer due to stereotypes associated with video games ( long story). As a gamer, that was a frustrating sentiment. I’ve always believed games bring us together and this community is capable of incredible good.It occurred to me the most productive response was to rally all the attendees and demonstrate the impact we could make as a group. My tournament evolved to become a fundraiser (now known as “Gamers for Giving”) and entry fees were committed towards supporting charity.Through that process, I discovered my local children’s hospital was having a difficult time providing families with activities during treatment. The solution just seemed obvious to me - why not give the hospital video games? If I was in the hospital, I’d certainly want to play video games! That instigated the birth of Gamers Outreach as an organisation.Shortly after our first donation, a neighbouring hospital reached out asking for support… then another, and another. Fast forward 16 years: we now help manage video game equipment and content across more than 400 healthcare facilities. We estimate as many as 5 million gaming experiences are enabled each year for families receiving care.Gaming can be a powerful tool for connection and escapism. How have you seen video games positively impact the lives of the children you work with?At Gamers Outreach - we’re on a mission to restore a sense of joy and normalcy in the lives of hospitalised families. We believe video games are a tool that make play accessible at scale. By equipping hospitals with video games, we can provide kids and their relatives with opportunities to socialise, express creativity, and simply have fun.Beyond that, we also see instances where games are assisting with the healthcare process. Games are sometimes used to lower a child’s anxiety before treatment. In other instances, they may be used as an incentive to help kids reach recovery goals faster. We also see moments where healthcare workers engage with children through gaming to facilitate dialogue and understand how a child may be feeling.We’re working to equip hospitals with tools that make gaming content readily available and easy to manage. One of the programs we’re most known for is called Project GO Kart (Gamers Outreach Kart). Through this initiative, we construct portable video game kiosks. Each unit is equipped with a gaming console, monitor, controllers, and assortment of games. Healthcare staff can use the devices to provide kids with AAA gaming experiences while they receive care.In one instance, we supported a child who was going through physical therapy and was trying to regain the ability to stand and move around on their own. The child had to complete a series of standing exercises each day, where they would get out of bed and stand for a period of time. The health worker told us when the child was able to play video games alongside exercise, they were able to stand for three times as long as they had previously without games.What challenges have you faced throughout your journey in Gamers Outreach?Firstly, starting any sort of company/organisation is difficult and often requires extensive commitment and personal sacrifice. I think everyone, at some point in their lives, should try to start a company of their own. In my experience, the attempt alone helps cultivate a deeper appreciation for the goods and services that make modern life possible.Broadly, we’ve overcome a number of challenges throughout the history of Gamers Outreach. We had to learn the ins and outs of healthcare facilities, how to manufacture physical goods, ways to creatively fundraise, and most importantly, respectfully honour the patients and families being supported by this work.One fun story: while Gamers Outreach has existed ~16 years, it was managed entirely on a volunteer basis up until ~2014. The gaming community had mailed us thousands of video games (modern and retro titles) that were being stored in my parent’s basement for resale or use in hospitals. Thankfully my folks were generally supportive, until one day a semi-truck showed up attempting to unload pallets of Xbox consoles. Someone was donating over 900 devices, and the driver started trying to unload pallets on our driveway! There was no way my parents wanted all those consoles sitting in the house. That was the line in the sand. I like to joke it was the day we got kicked out of the basement and had to start paying rent somewhere!Can you talk about any memorable experiences or success stories that highlight the impact of Gamers Outreach on the lives of the children and their families?We see games making an impact in the lives of patients every day. Even as I reply to you here, a family somewhere in the world is benefitting from the impact gamers have made in hospitals.Our equipment was involved in helping provide care for a child who had severe burns on the side of his arm. Every few days healthcare workers had to change bandages. The child was getting so anxious over the procedure that 6 different health workers had to restrain him to complete the process. One day someone discovered he liked playing Lego Batman, and they wheeled in one of our gaming Karts a few hours before his procedure was about to happen. Video games helped lower the child’s anxiety, and by the time the health workers came to change his bandages, his only concern was whether he could keep playing Lego Batman. The health workers were like, 'yes, of course!’ One of them held half the controller so he could continue playing, while the other held his arm to complete the procedure. It went from 6 healthcare workers assisting this patient down to 2. One was completing the procedure of changing the child's bandages, while the other was holding one half of the controller, so the kid could keep playing video games.There are three things I extrapolate from that story. One, clearly this child had a better healthcare experience thanks to video games. His anxiety lowered, and he wasn’t scared about the procedure any longer. Two, healthcare workers had an easier time doing their job. It wasn’t their intent to cause more discomfort, they were just trying to help somebody heal. There's also a third point to be made about the hospital's efficiency. The 4 other health workers could go support other patients. That's a big deal because a lot of hospitals think about their resources from the perspective of time management.As a founder, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey with Gamers Outreach so far? Are there any specific moments or achievements that stand out to you?By far the most important and meaningful aspect of this work has been knowing we’ve served a purpose in the healing journey for thousands of families. We prioritise the wellbeing of children and support of healthcare staff above all else.I once had the opportunity to meet a father whose child had a blood condition. His son had to walk around with various tubes attached to his body. This father remarked that his child was unable to run around and participate in playground activities like other kids. But as a dad, he was able to spend quality time with his son through video games. They enjoyed playing Ninja Turtles together with his brother - and it was a meaningful way to bond as a family. That’s why we do this work at all - to help create those moments.For individuals interested in getting involved or supporting Gamers Outreach, what are some ways they can contribute or make a difference?Anyone can support our work by making a donation on our website. Our monthly giving community, The GRID, is a new group we’ve launched to help folks stay connected and supportive of our work on an ongoing basis.We also sometimes have volunteer opportunities arise, where we need assistance with updating gaming equipment at hospitals. Folks can check out our website to register their interest!Finally, is there anything else you would like our readers to know about Gamers Outreach or any message you would like to share?Thank you for reading and helping us make an impact in the lives of hospitalised families. This work makes a tremendous difference for people receiving care, and we appreciate your consideration of our cause. If anyone has interest, they can also stay tuned to our updates by following us on social media, @GamersOutreach across all platforms.We’d also like to thank Zach, for his input and sharing what Gamers Outreach is all about. We’re extremely excited to begin our journey together – so be sure to check out the collection, and stay tuned for more!For Children’s Day, GOG partners up with Gamers Outreach!
For the occasion of Children’s Day, GOG has partnered up with Gamers Outreach – a charity that empowers hospitalized children through play, with a goal to build a world where activity is easily prioritized as part of care. With video games as their tools of choice, we decided to connect our strengths in order to do something great; and for a launch of this meaningful partnership, we're delighted to present a collection of games that helped variety of children during the most difficult moments, as well as an interview with Zach Wigal, the founder of Gamers Outreach. Gamers Outreach is a charity on a mission to change the experience of hospitalized children – children who lose access to friends, school, and moments that typically define childhood, having to deal with hospital reality instead. The goal is to help restore a sense of joy and normalcy in their lives. Through equipment, software, and, of course, the power of video games, creating environments with unique tools that provide children with access to digital playgrounds. To support that mission, we decided to partner up with Gamers Outreach, and together try to make a change. While we have a lot more up our sleeves that we can’t wait to announce, we’re extremely thrilled to start this wonderful friendship with a collection of children-friendly games that supported many small patients, as well as an interview with Zach Wigal – Gamers Outreach founder. Let’s hear what he has to say!Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the beginnings of Gamers Outreach? What were the motivations of creating an organisation focused on helping hospitalised children?Certainly! And first off, thanks for supporting our work in hospitals. We’re big fans of GOG and excited to see the impact the community will have.Gamers Outreach was started while I was a high school student. I developed an interest in hosting video game competitions. One of my events, a Halo 2 tournament, got shut down by a police officer due to stereotypes associated with video games ( long story). As a gamer, that was a frustrating sentiment. I’ve always believed games bring us together and this community is capable of incredible good.It occurred to me the most productive response was to rally all the attendees and demonstrate the impact we could make as a group. My tournament evolved to become a fundraiser (now known as “Gamers for Giving”) and entry fees were committed towards supporting charity.Through that process, I discovered my local children’s hospital was having a difficult time providing families with activities during treatment. The solution just seemed obvious to me - why not give the hospital video games? If I was in the hospital, I’d certainly want to play video games! That instigated the birth of Gamers Outreach as an organisation.Shortly after our first donation, a neighbouring hospital reached out asking for support… then another, and another. Fast forward 16 years: we now help manage video game equipment and content across more than 400 healthcare facilities. We estimate as many as 5 million gaming experiences are enabled each year for families receiving care.Gaming can be a powerful tool for connection and escapism. How have you seen video games positively impact the lives of the children you work with?At Gamers Outreach - we’re on a mission to restore a sense of joy and normalcy in the lives of hospitalised families. We believe video games are a tool that make play accessible at scale. By equipping hospitals with video games, we can provide kids and their relatives with opportunities to socialise, express creativity, and simply have fun.Beyond that, we also see instances where games are assisting with the healthcare process. Games are sometimes used to lower a child’s anxiety before treatment. In other instances, they may be used as an incentive to help kids reach recovery goals faster. We also see moments where healthcare workers engage with children through gaming to facilitate dialogue and understand how a child may be feeling.We’re working to equip hospitals with tools that make gaming content readily available and easy to manage. One of the programs we’re most known for is called Project GO Kart (Gamers Outreach Kart). Through this initiative, we construct portable video game kiosks. Each unit is equipped with a gaming console, monitor, controllers, and assortment of games. Healthcare staff can use the devices to provide kids with AAA gaming experiences while they receive care.In one instance, we supported a child who was going through physical therapy and was trying to regain the ability to stand and move around on their own. The child had to complete a series of standing exercises each day, where they would get out of bed and stand for a period of time. The health worker told us when the child was able to play video games alongside exercise, they were able to stand for three times as long as they had previously without games.What challenges have you faced throughout your journey in Gamers Outreach?Firstly, starting any sort of company/organisation is difficult and often requires extensive commitment and personal sacrifice. I think everyone, at some point in their lives, should try to start a company of their own. In my experience, the attempt alone helps cultivate a deeper appreciation for the goods and services that make modern life possible.Broadly, we’ve overcome a number of challenges throughout the history of Gamers Outreach. We had to learn the ins and outs of healthcare facilities, how to manufacture physical goods, ways to creatively fundraise, and most importantly, respectfully honour the patients and families being supported by this work.One fun story: while Gamers Outreach has existed ~16 years, it was managed entirely on a volunteer basis up until ~2014. The gaming community had mailed us thousands of video games (modern and retro titles) that were being stored in my parent’s basement for resale or use in hospitals. Thankfully my folks were generally supportive, until one day a semi-truck showed up attempting to unload pallets of Xbox consoles. Someone was donating over 900 devices, and the driver started trying to unload pallets on our driveway! There was no way my parents wanted all those consoles sitting in the house. That was the line in the sand. I like to joke it was the day we got kicked out of the basement and had to start paying rent somewhere!Can you talk about any memorable experiences or success stories that highlight the impact of Gamers Outreach on the lives of the children and their families?We see games making an impact in the lives of patients every day. Even as I reply to you here, a family somewhere in the world is benefitting from the impact gamers have made in hospitals.Our equipment was involved in helping provide care for a child who had severe burns on the side of his arm. Every few days healthcare workers had to change bandages. The child was getting so anxious over the procedure that 6 different health workers had to restrain him to complete the process. One day someone discovered he liked playing Lego Batman, and they wheeled in one of our gaming Karts a few hours before his procedure was about to happen. Video games helped lower the child’s anxiety, and by the time the health workers came to change his bandages, his only concern was whether he could keep playing Lego Batman. The health workers were like, 'yes, of course!’ One of them held half the controller so he could continue playing, while the other held his arm to complete the procedure. It went from 6 healthcare workers assisting this patient down to 2. One was completing the procedure of changing the child's bandages, while the other was holding one half of the controller, so the kid could keep playing video games.There are three things I extrapolate from that story. One, clearly this child had a better healthcare experience thanks to video games. His anxiety lowered, and he wasn’t scared about the procedure any longer. Two, healthcare workers had an easier time doing their job. It wasn’t their intent to cause more discomfort, they were just trying to help somebody heal. There's also a third point to be made about the hospital's efficiency. The 4 other health workers could go support other patients. That's a big deal because a lot of hospitals think about their resources from the perspective of time management.As a founder, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey with Gamers Outreach so far? Are there any specific moments or achievements that stand out to you?By far the most important and meaningful aspect of this work has been knowing we’ve served a purpose in the healing journey for thousands of families. We prioritise the wellbeing of children and support of healthcare staff above all else.I once had the opportunity to meet a father whose child had a blood condition. His son had to walk around with various tubes attached to his body. This father remarked that his child was unable to run around and participate in playground activities like other kids. But as a dad, he was able to spend quality time with his son through video games. They enjoyed playing Ninja Turtles together with his brother - and it was a meaningful way to bond as a family. That’s why we do this work at all - to help create those moments.For individuals interested in getting involved or supporting Gamers Outreach, what are some ways they can contribute or make a difference?Anyone can support our work by making a donation on our website. Our monthly giving community, The GRID, is a new group we’ve launched to help folks stay connected and supportive of our work on an ongoing basis.We also sometimes have volunteer opportunities arise, where we need assistance with updating gaming equipment at hospitals. Folks can check out our website to register their interest!Finally, is there anything else you would like our readers to know about Gamers Outreach or any message you would like to share?Thank you for reading and helping us make an impact in the lives of hospitalised families. This work makes a tremendous difference for people receiving care, and we appreciate your consideration of our cause. If anyone has interest, they can also stay tuned to our updates by following us on social media, @GamersOutreach across all platforms.We’d also like to thank Zach, for his input and sharing what Gamers Outreach is all about. We’re extremely excited to begin our journey together – so be sure to check out the collection, and stay tuned for more!
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the beginnings of Gamers Outreach? What were the motivations of creating an organisation focused on helping hospitalised children?Certainly! And first off, thanks for supporting our work in hospitals. We’re big fans of GOG and excited to see the impact the community will have.Gamers Outreach was started while I was a high school student. I developed an interest in hosting video game competitions. One of my events, a Halo 2 tournament, got shut down by a police officer due to stereotypes associated with video games ( long story). As a gamer, that was a frustrating sentiment. I’ve always believed games bring us together and this community is capable of incredible good.It occurred to me the most productive response was to rally all the attendees and demonstrate the impact we could make as a group. My tournament evolved to become a fundraiser (now known as “Gamers for Giving”) and entry fees were committed towards supporting charity.Through that process, I discovered my local children’s hospital was having a difficult time providing families with activities during treatment. The solution just seemed obvious to me - why not give the hospital video games? If I was in the hospital, I’d certainly want to play video games! That instigated the birth of Gamers Outreach as an organisation.Shortly after our first donation, a neighbouring hospital reached out asking for support… then another, and another. Fast forward 16 years: we now help manage video game equipment and content across more than 400 healthcare facilities. We estimate as many as 5 million gaming experiences are enabled each year for families receiving care.Gaming can be a powerful tool for connection and escapism. How have you seen video games positively impact the lives of the children you work with?At Gamers Outreach - we’re on a mission to restore a sense of joy and normalcy in the lives of hospitalised families. We believe video games are a tool that make play accessible at scale. By equipping hospitals with video games, we can provide kids and their relatives with opportunities to socialise, express creativity, and simply have fun.Beyond that, we also see instances where games are assisting with the healthcare process. Games are sometimes used to lower a child’s anxiety before treatment. In other instances, they may be used as an incentive to help kids reach recovery goals faster. We also see moments where healthcare workers engage with children through gaming to facilitate dialogue and understand how a child may be feeling.We’re working to equip hospitals with tools that make gaming content readily available and easy to manage. One of the programs we’re most known for is called Project GO Kart (Gamers Outreach Kart). Through this initiative, we construct portable video game kiosks. Each unit is equipped with a gaming console, monitor, controllers, and assortment of games. Healthcare staff can use the devices to provide kids with AAA gaming experiences while they receive care.In one instance, we supported a child who was going through physical therapy and was trying to regain the ability to stand and move around on their own. The child had to complete a series of standing exercises each day, where they would get out of bed and stand for a period of time. The health worker told us when the child was able to play video games alongside exercise, they were able to stand for three times as long as they had previously without games.What challenges have you faced throughout your journey in Gamers Outreach?Firstly, starting any sort of company/organisation is difficult and often requires extensive commitment and personal sacrifice. I think everyone, at some point in their lives, should try to start a company of their own. In my experience, the attempt alone helps cultivate a deeper appreciation for the goods and services that make modern life possible.Broadly, we’ve overcome a number of challenges throughout the history of Gamers Outreach. We had to learn the ins and outs of healthcare facilities, how to manufacture physical goods, ways to creatively fundraise, and most importantly, respectfully honour the patients and families being supported by this work.One fun story: while Gamers Outreach has existed ~16 years, it was managed entirely on a volunteer basis up until ~2014. The gaming community had mailed us thousands of video games (modern and retro titles) that were being stored in my parent’s basement for resale or use in hospitals. Thankfully my folks were generally supportive, until one day a semi-truck showed up attempting to unload pallets of Xbox consoles. Someone was donating over 900 devices, and the driver started trying to unload pallets on our driveway! There was no way my parents wanted all those consoles sitting in the house. That was the line in the sand. I like to joke it was the day we got kicked out of the basement and had to start paying rent somewhere!Can you talk about any memorable experiences or success stories that highlight the impact of Gamers Outreach on the lives of the children and their families?We see games making an impact in the lives of patients every day. Even as I reply to you here, a family somewhere in the world is benefitting from the impact gamers have made in hospitals.Our equipment was involved in helping provide care for a child who had severe burns on the side of his arm. Every few days healthcare workers had to change bandages. The child was getting so anxious over the procedure that 6 different health workers had to restrain him to complete the process. One day someone discovered he liked playing Lego Batman, and they wheeled in one of our gaming Karts a few hours before his procedure was about to happen. Video games helped lower the child’s anxiety, and by the time the health workers came to change his bandages, his only concern was whether he could keep playing Lego Batman. The health workers were like, 'yes, of course!’ One of them held half the controller so he could continue playing, while the other held his arm to complete the procedure. It went from 6 healthcare workers assisting this patient down to 2. One was completing the procedure of changing the child's bandages, while the other was holding one half of the controller, so the kid could keep playing video games.There are three things I extrapolate from that story. One, clearly this child had a better healthcare experience thanks to video games. His anxiety lowered, and he wasn’t scared about the procedure any longer. Two, healthcare workers had an easier time doing their job. It wasn’t their intent to cause more discomfort, they were just trying to help somebody heal. There's also a third point to be made about the hospital's efficiency. The 4 other health workers could go support other patients. That's a big deal because a lot of hospitals think about their resources from the perspective of time management.As a founder, what has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey with Gamers Outreach so far? Are there any specific moments or achievements that stand out to you?By far the most important and meaningful aspect of this work has been knowing we’ve served a purpose in the healing journey for thousands of families. We prioritise the wellbeing of children and support of healthcare staff above all else.I once had the opportunity to meet a father whose child had a blood condition. His son had to walk around with various tubes attached to his body. This father remarked that his child was unable to run around and participate in playground activities like other kids. But as a dad, he was able to spend quality time with his son through video games. They enjoyed playing Ninja Turtles together with his brother - and it was a meaningful way to bond as a family. That’s why we do this work at all - to help create those moments.For individuals interested in getting involved or supporting Gamers Outreach, what are some ways they can contribute or make a difference?Anyone can support our work by making a donation on our website. Our monthly giving community, The GRID, is a new group we’ve launched to help folks stay connected and supportive of our work on an ongoing basis.We also sometimes have volunteer opportunities arise, where we need assistance with updating gaming equipment at hospitals. Folks can check out our website to register their interest!Finally, is there anything else you would like our readers to know about Gamers Outreach or any message you would like to share?Thank you for reading and helping us make an impact in the lives of hospitalised families. This work makes a tremendous difference for people receiving care, and we appreciate your consideration of our cause. If anyone has interest, they can also stay tuned to our updates by following us on social media, @GamersOutreach across all platforms.We’d also like to thank Zach, for his input and sharing what Gamers Outreach is all about. We’re extremely excited to begin our journey together – so be sure to check out the collection, and stay tuned for more!