Gamers 4 Giving 2009: A Video Game Event For Charity

Gamers Outreach Foundation hosts its second annual ‘Gamers for Giving’ event.

From February 27th to March 1st, 2009, video gamers from across the country will convene at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center to participate in Michigan’s largest annual video game convention, Gamers for Giving.

Two years ago, public safety officials from Washtenaw County canceled a Halo 2 tournament planned by 11th grade Saline High School student Zach Wigal. Claiming the game was “…corrupting the minds of America’s youth,” the public safety officials convinced high school administrators the event was a hazard to public safety. Wigal, who had spent 3 months planning the event, made plans to host a new Halo tournament to raise money for charity. Illustrating the positive impact video games could make on the lives of individuals, Wigal, and fellow high-school friends, hosted a new tournament called ‘Gamers for Giving.’ The event was an incredible success. Over 600 participants and spectators attended, and gross revenue from the event totaled more than $15,000.00. Profits were donated to a local chapter of the Autism Society of America.

Wigal went on to form Gamers Outreach Foundation, a non-profit organization that utilizes video games for charity purposes and community projects. The foundation is preparing for its second annual fundraising event, ‘Gamers for Giving 2009,’ which has become the largest video game convention in the state of Michigan. The three-day non-stop event will jumpstart several community programs being launched by Gamers Outreach Foundation in 2009.

Event activities include a 2vs2 Halo 3 tournament with a $1,000.00 cash prize, a 300-person LAN party, (an event that allows participants to play video games with one another via a “Local Area Network”) a Super Smash Brothers Brawl Tournament, and a number of other gaming activities.

With attendance expected to exceed 1,000 individuals, Gamers for Giving provides a fun and interactive involvement opportunity to individuals who are interested in helping their community. The event utilizes one of today’s most rapidly growing forms of entertainment to help bring attention to the unique ways our own individual efforts can be applied to help others.

About Gamers Outreach Foundation
Gamers Outreach Foundation is a 501©(3) non-profit organization that utilizes video games to address community issues. The foundation takes a unique approach towards addressing community needs by directly using video games in ways that improve the livelihood of others. Further information and event registration can be found at www.GamersOutreach.org.