The Emporia State Gaming Club hosted a 24-hour livestream event last weekend to raise money for Extra Life, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals program. The charity stream was live from 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 to 6 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20.
According to the club’s president, Alexis Hatvik, the group set an initial fundraising goal of $200, as that was what they had raised from their last Extra Life fundraiser. In the end, they exceeded their goal, raising $734 for Stormont Vail Health in Topeka.
The Gaming Club has fundraised for Extra Life multiple times in the past few years. Extra Life is a nonprofit that has supported children’s hospitals throughout the United States and Canada since its founding in 2008. So far, they have raised over $80 million with the help of gamers of all kinds.
“Basically, any of the money that we raise throughout this livestream will go straight towards children’s treatments,” said Hatvik. Funds raised go to the hospitals as “unrestricted funds,” meaning they can use the money in ways that best help their patients. Hatvik continued, “That way, (kids) can get the treatment they deserve to have a bright future.”
Gaming Club partnered with ESU Esports, for which Hatvik is the broadcaster. Gaming Club streamed from the Esports arena using their streaming set-up and YouTube page. The members of the Gaming Club took shifts playing solo and multiplayer video games, chatting, and, as Hatvik put it, “basically, just having fun.” Titles included Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Skyrim, Roblox and other games that are friendly to all ages.
$734 beats the club’s previous all-time fundraising record of $450 and quadrupled their proceeds from last year. Hatvik was determined to reach and surpass their goal, and tried to get word of the event out better than they had in the past, utilizing posters, Hornet TV and Hornet Announcements. This resulted in 106 total viewers in those 24 hours.
Hatvik thanked the members of the Gaming Club who volunteered their time for the 24-hour event. She said, “Those that volunteered are amazing. I cannot thank you enough for that.”
