ESL has just revealed a new partnership with charity Gamers Outreach as part of their Gaming for Good initiative, with the pair launching a campaign featuring fundraising, awareness, and more alongside the IEM Chicago event between July 20 and 21, continuing with various events moving forwards.
"'Gaming for Good' is a natural progression to fulfill our brand purpose, and I believe it is important that industry leaders like ESL set the tone and use their brand for the good of society," said Rodrigo Samwell, Chief Marketing Officer at ESL. "Partnering with Gamers Outreach will allow ESL to support children in hospitals, where gaming can help serve as a connection to the outside world, the motivation to fight a condition, and dream to become somebody. We are committed to working with Gamers Outreach to create awareness and fundraising campaigns that supports the organization's programs through IEM Chicago and beyond. We call upon all gamers and esports athletes to join us at IEM Chicago to use gaming for good."
Starting yesterday, ESL is hosting an IEM Chicago ticket fundraiser, where up to $10 USD from each ticket will be donated to Gamers Outreach, who has an exhibit booth in Chicago. Other initiatives will also be explored, like building and delivering custom game stations for those who can't leave their hospital rooms.
"As longtime esports enthusiasts, our team is beyond excited to work with ESL in a formal capacity," said Zach Wigal, Founder of Gamers Outreach. "Hospitalization can often be a lonely, isolating experience for patients receiving treatment, but on a daily basis, we see the incredible impact games have on the lives of families. Video games are tools that help normalize healthcare environments, and our organization is committed to making video game content available and easy to manage. Games help produce a sense of joy, facilitate socialization, and can even assist with treatment. This partnership with ESL is an incredible opportunity for the community to make a difference in the lives of gamers receiving medical care. We're proud to work with the team at ESL to raise awareness and support for Gamers Outreach programs."
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