Last week, the EA SPORTS Madden NFL team hosted their third annual Field The Future event, and Gamers Outreach was a proud partner.
Teamwork For The Future!
Alongside the San Francisco 49ers, Gamers Outreach teamed up with Xbox to donate 15 new GO Karts to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals for EA’s Field the Future initiative. The GO Karts (fully equipped with Xbox Series X consoles with EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 installed and custom controllers made exclusively for Field the Future) represent our contribution to the event’s purpose of providing resources and opportunities for young people to advance their skills, passion, and knowledge of the sport from the pros and the acclaimed Madden NFL series.
Teamwork For The Kids!
The event kicked off when members of EA, Xbox, and Gamers Outreach went to UCSF Benioff Children’s to visit with patients eager to meet 49ers legend Larry Grant. There were tears of joy, warm smiles, and pure excitement during each moment Grant shared with the kids. One of the more memorable moments came when a first-time Madden player intercepted Grant twice.
“I played Madden with a REAL 49er player,” a delighted patient exclaimed as the game concluded. “And we TIED!”
It’s these kinds of moments that Gamers Outreach exists for, especially in hospital settings.
“When my son was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly, we couldn’t bring his gaming system with us,” said the mother of a 15-year-old patient on the oncology unit. “The GO Karts are incredible. They give him the opportunity to focus on something other than his pain and the hospital experience.”
Hospitals are places for treatment and healing, but they’re also associated with fear and stress. GO Karts provide entertainment and enjoyment to ease that fear and stress. They represent joy, hope, and excitement. Those feelings are enhanced when they’re shared with people like Larry Grant or anybody willing to spend time with them.
The 15 newly placed GO Karts provide a lasting impact, supporting up to an estimated 43,500 gaming experiences every year. That’s a lot of touchdown celebrations!
Teamwork On (And Off) The Field
Speaking of touchdown celebrations, the next day ended up being an exciting trip to EA’s Redwood Shores Global HQ campus. 100 flag football players and 50 Children’s Hospital patients were invited to EA Redwood Shores for lunch, tours, and activities. The kids even heard from the Xbox and Madden NFL development teams.
The festivities began when kids arrived at EA to get registered before being ushered over to EA’s private basketball court. The court was decked out, featuring a buffet spread that included do-it-yourself burgers and boba tea. Xbox Series X consoles installed with Madden 25 also lined the walls to keep the kids entertained during lunch. Of course, a GO Kart was on display, also equipped with an Xbox Series X with EA SPORTS Madden NFL 25.
The kids were later split into two groups before entering EA’s theater to learn more about the event. One group joined Kyle Jusczcyk for football drills and activities like the 40-yard dash and vertical jump. The other group attended a sit-down featuring Kristin Juszczyk, who talked about her captivating journey as a fashion designer. The groups then switched before taking pictures with the Juszczyks and 49er mascot, Sourdough Sam, and calling it a day.
More Events!
We had an absolute blast at Field the Future and thank everybody involved that made the event the outstanding community success it was. It’s not every day where you can be there in person alongside fantastic partners like Electronic Arts, Xbox, UCSF Health, and the San Francisco 49ers for the sake of seeing children thrive. What better way to prepare for the big game?
“There’s a magic that can happen at the intersection of physical and virtual crossover for events like this,” said Walter Duccini, Gamers Outreach’s Managing Director. “The Field the Future initiative did a good job helping to create some of that magic with their inclusive approach for those that have the same passion, but not the same physical ability around football. Providing an opportunity through gaming to include kids going through treatment in the hospital is a consideration that not many companies really do.”
Field the Future 2025 was the first of many events Gamers Outreach plans to be at this year. Be on the lookout for us at the Child Life Conference, EVO, PAX West, and more!
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