charity

Meet Zach Wigal of Gamers Outreach

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Gamers Outreach

If you’ve ever been in a hospital, you know what a drag it is.  When you’re a kid, it’s even worse.  However as most of us know a good video game is a real boost – and Gamers Outreach makes accessing good games easier for kids in the hospital.  However they don’t stop there – they also do marathons and send game care packages to the troops.  I talked to Zach Wigal the founder who was happy enough to let me ask him about his attempts to make the world a better place.

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Geek Catalog Update 11/9/2014

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It’s your weekly update of Citizen Geek Resources!

First of all the full lists now have in-page links since they’ve gotten huge – you can find them sorted by Geeky Interest or Specific Focus.

With Blizzcon ending, I figured this week I’d focus just on video game charities and causes.  Here’s a chance to get your Citizen Gamer on!

Video Games

  • Accessibility
    • Special Effect – Helps people with disabilities play video games with special technology and a variety of fundraisers. Takes donations and runs events.
  • Charitable Work
    • Gamers For Giving – Michigan’s largest game charity event, a game tournament that supports Gamers Outreach Foundation
    • Gamers Outreach – A game industry charity organization that uses game events to raise money to set up game kiosks in hospitals and support the troops.
    • Games Aid – A UK video Games charity that’s an umbrella for many other charities helping the disadvantaged. Raises money via activities, auctions, and more.
    • Gaming For Good – A platform where you get games for donating to charity – with revenue going to Save The Children.
    • Gaming Worldwide – Harnessess the power of gaming to get people involved in events, charities, and more.
    • Hyrule Hustlers – Video game enthusiasts who sponsor Childs Play and run Zelda-based events and marathons.
    • Marathon Gamers – A gaming marathon group tha does marathons for charities.
    • Mario Marathon – A yearly all-Mario gameathon to support Childs Play.
    • One Big Game – A nonprofit that raises money by selling games.

 

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.;

Geek Catalog Update 9/7/2014

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Child Reading Magic Library

Here’s the latest Geek Catalog update for those of you interested in civic geekery. You can find the entire catalog sorted by geek interest and community focus as well.

Comics

  • Charitable Work
    • Heroes Alliance – Cosplayers who use their skills for charity and community events.

Computing

  • Charity
    • Free Geek Chicago – A Chicago nonprofit that recycles used computers and parts to provide computers and job training to those in need.
    • Free Geek (Portland) – A Portland nonprofit that recycles used computers and parts to provide computers and job training to those in need.
    • Motor City Free Geek – A Detroit nonprofit that repairs and recycles computers, teaches and educates, and works on Open Source.

General

  • General
    • Geek Market – A philanthropic company in Ottawa that provides markets for geek artisans, promotes community, and raises money for charities.

Video Games

  • Charity
    • Extra Life – A gamer organization that supports the Childrens Miracle Network via personal sponsorship.
  • General
    • Childs Play – The famous organization that provides games and consoles for hospitalized children.

Writing

  • Literacy
    • Stan Lee Foundation – An organization that builds alliances among various groups to promote literacy.
    • Might Writers – A Philadelphia organization that supports writing and literacy by providing free classes and teaching.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.