It’s National Volunteer Week, and everybody at Gamers Outreach wanted to recognize and thank our volunteers for their contributions to our community. As a non-profit 501(c)(3), we simply wouldn’t exist without volunteers. Passion and dedication is what got this foundation started, and we’d be remiss to not celebrate the people who have worked tirelessly for the sake of providing more children around the world with the power of play.
In this blog, we’ll celebrate National Volunteer Week by talking about the various volunteer opportunities within Gamers Outreach, hear from some of our most devoted volunteers, and cap it off with some kind words from our amazing Program Support Manager who insisted on putting this altogether.
Volunteer Opportunities
For supporters interested in volunteering with us, we recruit year-round for two different types of volunteer opportunities. Let’s go over each of them.
Player 2
Also referred to as the GO Kart Race Crew, Player 2 is one of our pillar programs. It’s an initiative that pairs gamers with opportunities to give back at hospitals. Hospitals typically have a need for volunteers who can fill in during busy weekday business hours and understand the medical setting. With that, Player 2 is ideal for college gamers looking to get into the medical field.
In addition to hospital-mandated tasks, responsibilities for a Player 2 volunteer include maintaining and managing GO Karts at health care facilities. Tasks can also include setting up GO Karts when they’re delivered and providing minor tech support for possible issues that may arise with the equipment, including game updates, connectivity, installing software, and trouble shooting. Of course, being a real Player 2 and playing with patients is also key.
The following healthcare facilities in the United States are looking for Player 2 volunteers:
- Banner Health – Thunderbird Children’s Hospital (Glendale, AZ)
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
- Orthopedic Institute for Children (Los Angeles, CA)
- Rady Children’s Hospital (San Diego, CA)
- UMC Children’s Hospital (Las Vegas, NV)
- Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston, TX)
- UTMB Health Clear Lake Campus Hospital (Webster, TX)
- Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, IL)
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan (Detroit, MI)
- Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando, FL)
- St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital (Tampa, FL)
- Cohen Children’s Medical Center (Queens, NY)
- The Brooklyn Hospital Center (Brooklyn, NY)
- Maimonides Medical Center (Brooklyn, NY)
Those interested in volunteering as a Player 2 at any of the listed hospitals can apply here.
Don’t see a location closer to you on the list? We’re always looking to implement the Player 2 Program with new hospitals? You can enroll your healthcare center here.
Events
While we just wrapped up Gamers For Giving, there are still several events that may require the assistance of volunteers.
Gamers Outreach takes part in several gaming and healthcare-centric events throughout the year. The most common way we do that is with our informational booth. While mostly operated by our marketing team, there will be times where volunteers are necessary to help set up or take down the booth. We’ll also expect volunteers at the booth to be confident enough to talk about the foundation with passersby while distributing flyers, as well as be able to facilitate donations with people willing to support the foundation.
Our informational booth will be at the following events this year (subject to change):
- Child Life Conference (Los Angeles, CA)
- Evo (Las Vegas, NV)
- PAX West (Seattle, WA)
- TwitchCon (San Diego, CA)
- Holiday Matsuri (Orlando, FL)
We aren’t actively recruiting volunteers to help out with these events yet, but we encourage people looking to volunteer apply anyway or contact us.
Testimonials
Volunteering with Gamers Outreach is both fun and rewarding. Don’t just take our word for it!
Here’s a quick one from Sarah, who’s been going to GFG for over a decade and has been helping us out with photos at the LAN floor.
…it really was quite special to see how at the end of the day, anything we do whether it’s gaming for the cause, attending for the cause, volunteering for the cause, or bringing awareness–The heart of what I do and why I always love and sign up to volunteer by gathering photographs throughout the event with those special moments every step of the way is because I want everyone to live in a world where people know, love, and support Gamers for Giving as I do. – Sarah Thomas / gingersnap95 (GFG Volunteer)
Interested in what it’s like to be on the GO Kart Race Crew? Here’s a little something from Dave.
A few years ago I was looking for charities that I could contribute to and stumbled upon Gamers Outreach. Getting to dig around in the system settings of Xboxes and PS4s might not sound like fun to most people, but it is to me. The staff at Gamers Outreach and CHLA make it a joy to help kids who are going through a really tough time. I’m grateful to be able to help in my own small, nerdy way. – Dave Roderick (GO Kart Race Crew Member)
Finally, we have a Player 2 in Jon, who’s done way more for us as a volunteer than just Player 2.
I also assisted with recruiting volunteers for Player 2 at various hospitals across the country. Many people applied for volunteer roles after hearing about the organization and the experiences it offers, which was exciting but also challenging to manage as the demand grew. I was fortunate to take part in great opportunities, such as helping out with the GO Kart at some Red Wings games and other events. My extensive hockey knowledge, combined with my understanding of GO and the Karts, led to many fun and memorable experiences and further expanded my network. I even won a grant to fund a GO Kart to be donated on behalf of my workplace. – Jon Shim / bigsoccerboi (Player 2 Volunteer)
Last, but certainly not least, let’s all give Kaitlin Lewis a special shoutout. Kaitlin is our Program Support Manager, and prior that, she had been volunteering with Gamers Outreach since 2012. She’s helped fundraise multiple GO Karts and personally deliver them in hospitals across the country, and she knows firsthand of the importance volunteers have in our community.
In my current role, I’ve had the privilege of helping place volunteers in various Gamers Outreach initiatives. Whether it’s coordinating volunteers to set up or repair GO Karts, or simply spending time playing games with kids through the Player 2 program, I’ve seen firsthand the profound difference it makes. I’ve heard stories of children’s faces lighting up the moment a GO Kart is wheeled into their room, of kids who have laughed and smiled for hours despite the challenges they’re facing. These are the moments that fuel our mission. – Kaitlin Lewis, Gamers Outreach Program Support Manager
One More Way To Volunteer
There’s actually one more way to volunteer with us that doesn’t require you fill out any long applications: supporting our fundraisers. By supporting fundraisers like Gamers For Giving, whether it be by streaming or by donating, this is still time that you’re giving Gamers Outreach. We definitely appreciate the time that you give us, and we look forward to continuing to highlight your contributions FOR THE KIDS in the years to come.
Our next big fundraiser is VTuber Summer Slam, and we hope to see you there.
But before that, let’s have more words from Kaitlin to cap things off:
None of this would be possible without our incredible volunteers—the heart and soul of what we do. Their passion, dedication, and kindness allow us to continue spreading the joy of gaming to those who need it most. We are beyond grateful to be part of this community, using the power of play to bring happiness and comfort to children and families when they need it most.
Happy National Volunteer Week!
From The Gamers Outreach Crew