The gaming industry is giving back to the community through GamesAid, a charity based in the UK. Thanks to recent successful events, GamesAid has been able to donate a substantial sum to a range of important causes in the UK affecting gamers and non-gamers alike.
While many gamers may not think about how their favorite video games intersect with charitable causes, it's important to remember just how many people play games. Well over 3 billion people worldwide play video games regularly, which means that many gamers are also struggling with mental health issues, cancer, and other challenges. Sometimes philanthropy in games is as straightforward as using video games to raise money; in other circumstances, it can come from some surprising places.
GamesAid does not do social work itself, but rather donates the money it receives among a number of different UK social charities. Some of those charities are tied to video games and electronics, such as Everyone Can, which runs events to help disabled gamers have fun using state-of-the-art accessibility hardware. On the other hand, some of the charities are not directly related to gaming; for instance, The Clock Tower Sanctuary provides resources and spaces for young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton, UK.
GamesAid raised £70,000, or about $85,000 USD, for charity through various initiatives, such as online stand-up comedy events. This is the amount awarded to its cohort of charities for 2021, rather than its lifetime giving total, which is much higher. It awarded the money to these charities in a virtual ceremony conducted as part of the opening to the London Games Festival in March. The London Games Festival is a major event uniting members of the gaming industry, while showcasing selected games like Aerial Knight's Never Yield.
While GamesAid's fundraising is admirable, it's far from the only charitable initiative tied to video games. Many video games offer in-game rewards for charity donations, such as World of Warcraft. Plus, organizations not officially tied to gaming have found ways to benefit from the gaming community. For example, the UK-based organization Cats Protection runs a charity program for streamers called Pawsome Players, letting streamers raise money to improve cat welfare.
Plus, gaming-related charitable efforts aren't exclusive to video games. There are initiatives tied to tabletop games as well, such as a Dungeons and Dragons experience run by Comic Relief, a British charity. Between all the possible forms that gaming-related charity can take, there's a way for anyone to jump in and begin contributing to important causes while having fun at the same time.
Source: gamesindustry.biz