A couple weeks ago, we had the chance to be a part of one of the largest Smash Bros. tournaments ever organized, The Big House 5! The excitement which filled the venue was palpable right from the very start of the event. We were blown away by the passion exhibited by the Smash community. The Big House 5 was truly one of the most exhilarating tournaments we’ve witnessed!
Those who competed at Gamers for Giving 2015 would probably recognize Robin “Juggleguy” Harn, who helped manage our Smash tournament during this past February’s event. Robin also happens to be the lead organizer for The Big House series, and is known throughout the Smash community as running some of the most polished events the Smash esports scene has witnessed.
We were honored to be invited to The Big House 5 by Robin as the official charity partner of the event. During the course of the event, we worked to raise funds for a special delivery of video games and equipment to Hurley Children’s Hospital of Flint, Michigan. For those unaware, Flint has a storied history in the state of Michigan. Once a hotbed for car manufacturing, the city fell on hard economic times after General Motors closed a manufacturing plant which drove a lot of the city’s job growth, pushing the local economy into a deep depression. Just a few years ago, Flint was ranked as “one of the most dangerous cities in the US” and violent crime is still prevalent today.
As a city-funded hospital, Hurley Children’s has limited resources compared to its state counterparts, and often treats children who are victims of Flint’s economic climate. Earlier in 2015, Hurley Children’s reached out to Gamers Outreach asking for video game donations in an effort to increase the recreational activity that is normally hard to come by for patients.
Thankfully, the Smash community stepped forward! We’re pleased to announce attendees at The Big House 5 helped raise $3,635.91! This included funds that were raised from donations we received at our booth during the event ($881.91 to be exact) as well as an additional $2,754 which was raised through a portion of vendor sales.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be working closely with Hurley Children’s Hospital to identify the specific needs of their facility, and how these funds can help benefit their patients. Be on the look out for an update towards mid-December to see how these funds get put to use!
Major thanks to everyone who participated in the event and contributed to the cause. We can’t wait to get to work inside Hurley Children’s!
Lastly, congratulations to all those who competed at the event! We had a blast watching all the action! The Smash hype is real!