Gamers Engaged

Today we're excited to introduce Emil as our next #GamersWhoGive spotlight! Emil brings together his passion for gaming and community engagement in meaningful ways, showing how games can be a powerful force for good. How do you connect your love of all things games and giving? I've long believed that games can be an incredible force for good in the world. My career, my friend group, my ability to get through the pandemic, and more all come back to games. I've seen firsthand how games bring people together at events like BlizzCon and PAX. So, it's easy to connect games with the concept of giving because games have already given me so much. What attracted you to get "engaged" with Gamers Engaged? I appreciate anyone who sees the value of games for society in the same way I do! What's another non-profit we should know about? SpecialEffect and Child's play are active in the gaming space. The only thing I love more than games is dogs so rest of my attention goes to Saving Great Animals and 15/10 Foundation. What game are you currently playing? On Xbox I've been playing Sifu thanks to Game Pass. On tabletop, I've been playing a lot of Warhammer and starting to plan my next D&D campaign with the edition refresh. If you were an in-game character, who would you be? Link is great because he represents childlike joy contrasted with the responsibility of growing up. He is quiet and stoic but that doesn't stop him from being effective or heroic. His actions are what people remember of him. The same could be said for Master Chief but I'm not bad ass enough to be him. What's your alignment? Chaotic Good!

?Meet Our First Play it Forward Fund Grantees!? We're thrilled to introduce the incredible organizations receiving our inaugural Play it Forward grants. Each of these partners is using gaming to create meaningful change in unique and powerful ways: ?? National Organization: Take This, Inc. ?? Local Organization: Zeno ?? Game-Centric Organization: Game to Grow ?? New Kid on the Block: Game Devs of Color Expo Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing in-depth spotlights on each of these amazing organizations. Get ready to learn about their missions, their stories, and why we’ve selected them as this year’s grantees! The Play it Forward Fund is our new low-barrier grant program, launched with funds raised through The Gauntlet 2024. We support organizations focused on Health/Mental Health, Education, and Community Development, both locally and nationally. Stay tuned to meet these organizations and discover how your support of the Play it Forward Fund is creating real change. #PlayitForward #GamingForGood #GrantRecipients #InclusiveGaming #ZenoMath #TakeThisOrg #GameToGrow #GDCExpo

Gamers Engaged was thrilled to participate in the 4th Annual Games and Education Industry Collider this past weekend! There were workshops and break-out sessions, as well as informative keynote and panel presentations. Our very own Executive Director, Lyla Ross LICSW lead a panel of Game Designers and Educators in a thoughtful conversation around Gaming for Impact. The Expo floor was also filled with demos of educational games, as well as important dialog of how our industries can continue to work together. Thank you for having us, Seattle Indies, and thank you for creating a space for this community work to thrive! #gamingforimpact #therapeuticgaming #edtech #educationalgames #gamedevs

?Partner Spotlight: Seattle Indies ? We're proud to work alongside Seattle Indies, an incredible nonprofit cultivating the indie game development scene in the Puget Sound area. Together, we're building a more vibrant and accessible gaming community. What makes Seattle Indies special? They create spaces where anyone interested in game development can learn, grow, and connect. Through monthly meetups, events, and workshops, they're empowering the next generation of game creators to build their skills, expand their networks, and showcase their projects. These regular gatherings bring together developers of all experience levels to share ideas, playtest games, and collaborate. From supporting local talent to fostering innovation, Seattle Indies shows how grassroots organizations can transform the gaming landscape. Whether you're a hobbyist or aspiring professional, their community provides the resources and support to help you succeed. Here's to supporting the future of indie game development in the Pacific Northwest! ?? Photo credit: Photo taken at the 2024 Seattle Indies Expo #PartnerSpotlight #SeattleIndies #IndieGameDev #GamingCommunity

?Partner Spotlight: BRIC Foundation? We're thrilled to highlight our partnership with BRIC Foundation, an organization changing the game in representation across Entertainment, Gaming, Media, and Tech. Founded in 2018 in Los Angeles and now expanding to Seattle gaming scene, BRIC is on a mission to break barriers and reinvent hiring practices in creative spaces. Their work aligns perfectly with our goal to make gaming a force for positive change. This partnership combines BRIC's expertise in diversity initiatives with our reach in the gaming community, amplifying our collective impact. We're proud to work alongside BRIC in our efforts to create a more diverse and representative gaming industry. ?? Photo credit: Photo taken at the 2024 BRIC Summit: WA Creative Economy + Education Day #PartnerSpotlight #BRICFoundation #DiversityInGaming #RepresentationMatters #GamingForChange #InclusiveGaming #CreativeSpaces #GameChangers #GamingCommunity #EmpowermentThroughGaming

GeekGirlCon is next weekend!?? Join us November 9 & 10 in downtown Seattle for this celebration of diversity in gaming, tech, comics, arts, and more. GeekGirlCon creates an inclusive space where under-represented voices in gaming culture can shine. Gamers Engaged is excited to support this incredible event. Between the panels, gaming sessions, artist alley, and exhibitions, there's something for everyone! #GeekGirlCon #DiversityInGaming #InclusiveGaming

Gamers ?? Halloween ????Gamers don't just slay dragons and save worlds -? they make epic costumes! ?????? Need inspiration for a last-minute costume? Swipe through for our favorites from recent years. It’s almost like they stepped right out of the game… ? Break the case of the missing candy as Detective Pikachu ? Creep out the neighbors as a MineCraft Creeper ? Go old school as Pacman and Ghost ? Stop Mario from powering up as Dry Bones ? Bring on the cute factor as Kirby ? Team up with friends to project the forest as Korok No matter what you wear and how you show off your inner gamer, happy Halloween! #Pikachu #MineCraft #Pacman #SuperMario #Kirby #LegendofZelda #Halloween

??Halloween costume too good for just one day? Take it to GeekGirlCon! ?? Gamers Engaged is excited to support GeekGirlCon, happening November 9 & 10 in downtown Seattle. It's an amazing celebration of under-represented groups in gaming, tech, comics, arts, and more. Give your Halloween masterpiece another moment to shine in their cosplay contest! GeekGirlCon creates an inclusive space where everyone can showcase their creativity and passion. Head to the link below to submit your masterpiece today! https://lnkd.in/eY8Bk-M7

Guess what? We are in the final stages of selecting our Play-it-Forward grantees! But we can't tell you who these four change-making nonprofits are just yet. You'll need to wait a little bit longer. Here's the news we can share... Our grantees represent four exciting categories: ?? New Kid on the Block ??? Local Nonprofit ?? National Nonprofit ?? Game-Centric Nonprofit Each of these partners fulfills at least one of our Areas of Focus: ???? Health/Mental Health/Basic Needs ?? Education ?? Therapeutic Gaming and Research, ?? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Gaming We're proud to support their missions through the Play-it-Forward Fund! Stay tuned for the official announcement! In the coming weeks as we spotlight each grantee and share their stories you'll see firsthand how your support is making a real difference in communities through the power of play. A huge thank you to everyone who's been part of this journey. Together, we're leveling up the impact of gaming for good! #PlayItForward #GamingForGood #NonprofitPartners #GamersEngaged

Happy 50th Birthday, Dungeons & Dragons! ?? Can you believe it? Our favorite tabletop RPG is turning 50! From humble beginnings in a Wisconsin cobbler's home to a global phenomenon, D&D has been sparking imaginations for half a century. To celebrate this milestone, Wizards of the Coast is rolling out some exciting plans: ?? New 2024 core rulebooks to shape the future of the game ??"Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth" - a throwback adventure for all to enjoy ??A year-long celebration of D&D's rich history and bright future Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious newcomer, there's never been a better time to grab your dice and join the adventure.