In addition to the regular games critique work that we do here at NYMG, we also spend some of our free time doing charitable and outreach work. We work with children at local schools teaching them about games and programming and we do games marathons to raise money for good causes. On this page you are going to find links to the campaigns that we are currently working with so that you can support us in our endeavors if you are willing and able. Gaming for good gives us a chance to do something that we love and help people at the same time. Feel free to join us in our quest!
Fall 2018: Gaming Marathon UPCOMING
Summer (July) 2018: Gaming Marathon
As a child I remember one particularly scary dream about monsters in our basement (I still hate basements), but after waking from that dream I was able to climb into bed with my mom and feeling safe and loved. Children should not be left cold, terrified, drugged, and alone in little more than cages with little chance (and little attempt) at reunifying them with their parents.
Children need caregivers (mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, siblings) someone familiar who makes them feel safe and loved. Our current immigration policies are robbing children of that basic right of childhood by separating them from their parents. Even after last weeks executive order there is little relief in sight. The order proposes detaining children with their families in jails and little more than cages. This calls to mind the Japanese internment camps during World War II that imprisoned more than 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry on American soil.
As humans, we have to be better than this. We have to learn from our mistakes.
For this reason we are coming together to raise money for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) which is an organization that provides legal defense for these children (even babies still in diapers) who have no one familiar around them and no one to be their voices.
TL;DR Our current immigration policies are doing unspeakable wrong and damage to immigrant children and we need to do what we can to get them back to their families and to make sure that the separation stops.
Who we are:
Samantha Blackmon: Partnered Mixer Streamer, NYMG founder, (anti-)academic, and human
Moto: Partnered Mixer Streamer, Girl Tribe Gaming co-founder, and human
EightBitBlonde: Partnered Mixer Streamer, Podcaster (Girls on Games and Radio 76), Community Manager, and yes…human
Summer (June) 2018: Pride Month Campaign
In the United States June is National LGBTQi+ Pride month. This month we celebrate our history and recommit to not only celebrating that history, but making strides forward in equality for all. It is because of this that we have chosen the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as our charity to support during this campaign.
The HRC “represents a force of more than 3 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community” (hrc.org).
Winter (March) 2018: Gaming Marathon
On March 17, 2018 we are coming together as gamers and community members to play games and raise money for charity-gaming.org. Charity Gaming provides games to chronically ill children who are hospitalized.
Being hospitalized is never any fun and it’s even less fun when you are a child who is hospitalized long term or repeatedly. Having things like video games to keep you entertained can help make the ordeal a little better.
Fall (October) 2017: Gaming Marathon
On October 7, 2017 we are coming together to help the people of Puerto Rico rebuild after Hurricane Maria left more than 3 million people largely without power or running water. It is expected that this will be their situation for several months. If your employer offers charitable gift matching Direct Relief may be eligible so check with them and possibly double your gift! Let’s do what we can to help!
Summer (August) 2017: Gaming Marathon
On Saturday, August 12, 2017 we are running our seventh Gaming for Good event. This time we have chosen The Trevor Project as our charity and we are co-hosting with Girl Tribe Gaming so that we can do even more gaming and even more good. You could say that we have “Leveled Up.”
The Trevor Project is a non-profit charity that was founded in 1998 to focus on suicide prevention for LGBTQ folks 13-24. The organization was started by the creators of the Academy Award winning short film Trevor and provides a number of services including suicide prevention training and resources, social and political outreach, and crisis interventions in the form of chat, text messaging, and a 24 hour lifeline.
The Trevor Project also works closely with academic and research institutions like USC School of Social Work and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles to help advance research into suicide so that more can done to understand suicidal ideation and how to do suicide de-escalate.
If you would like to support this campaign, but are unable to donate you can always participate by streaming along with us, hanging out in streams, or just helping to spread the word so that more people can learn about our campaign. Thanks for your continued support of our Gaming for Good initiative.
Spring (February) 2017: Gaming Marathon
On Saturday, March 11, 2017 we are hosting our sixth Gaming for Good event. This time we have chosen American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as our charity. Since 1920 the ACLU has been fighting hate and bigotry in the United States. Since January the ACLU has been working diligently to fight illegal and unconstitutional executive orders issued by the White House and in recent weeks they have pledged to hire 200 lawyers and staffers to continue the fight. By working together to raise funds for the ACLU we can help support their work of defending and preserving the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
During the course of the event we will be using the hashtag #NYMG_G4G to share stories and offer information about the history and work of the ACLU. The marathon will take place on Saturday, March 11, 2017, but we will keep a running tally of funds donated through March 31, 2017.
To donate to ACLU please follow this link to the campaign page at JustGive.org and we will be able to keep a running total of donations made for this campaign.
Winter (December) 2016: Gaming Marathon
On Saturday, December 17, 2016 we are hosting our fifth Gaming for Good event. This time we have chosen Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) as our charity. Since 1971 the SPLC has been fighting hate and bigotry in the United States. Since November 8th we have seen an enormous increase in the number of hate crimes in the United States. By working together to raise funds for SPLC we can help support their work of monitoring hate groups, educating people about tolerance, and maintaining the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama.
In addition to the work that it does providing information to law enforcement, media, and the public about hate group activities, SPLC has also released 8 educational documentaries (with teaching kits) that it provides free of charge to educators in the United States and Canada.
During the course of the event we will be using the hashtag #NYMG_G4G to share stories and offer information about the history and work of the SPLC. The marathon will take place on Saturday, December 17, 2016, but we will keep a running tally of funds donated through January 31, 2017.
To donate to SPLC please follow this link and select the “In Honor Of…” option under your donation amount by sending an eCard notification (and tell us the amount of your donation) to NYMGamer at nymgamer@gmail.com we will receive notification of your donation (which is tax deductible) and we will be able to keep a running total of donations made for this campaign.
Fall (October) 2016: Gaming Marathon
On Saturday, October 8, 2016 we are hosting our fourth Gaming for Good event. This time we have chosen Stop Soldier Suicide as our charity. Every day an average of 20+ veterans and 1 active duty soldier take their own lives. Because of the stigma of mental illness and the shame of PTSD they choose suicide over seeking professional help. Stop Soldier Suicide is an organization run by veterans who understand what these soldiers have been through and have a good idea of how to help.
Stop Soldier Suicide is not a mental health agency but rather a case management agency that partners with soldiers for a period of two years to help them transition from a life of active duty to that of a civilian while helping them locate the other resources and services that they may need.
During the course of the event we will be using the hashtags #NYMG_G4G to share stories and offer information about the staggering rate of suicide among soldiers and veterans. The marathon will take place on Saturday, October 8, 2016, but the fundraising portal will be open for donations from today (9/8/16) until October 31, 2016.
Scheduled streamers with their Twitch handles. We will also be hosting streamers on the Twitch.tv/nymgamer channel.
12-4 am Sam nymgamer_saffista/Lee nymgamer_theinsomniakid
4-8 am Alex (4-6?) nymgamer_alex
8 am-12 pm Bethany f3mshepn7
12-4 pm 12-2 Sam and Pea nymgamer_saffista/Bianca nymgamer_bianca
4-8 pm Patrick trickee360 /Lee nymgamer_theinsomniakid
8 pm- 12 am Alisha nymgamer_alisha
Spring (May) 2016: Gaming Marathon
On Saturday, May 7, 2016 we are hosting our third Gaming for Good event. This time we have chosen the Flint Child Health and Development Fund (FCHDF) as our charity. The FCHDF was created to support the delivery of critical public health, medical, and community-based services and interventions that address and mitigate the short and long term impacts experienced by Flint, Michigan children exposed to lead as the result of the 2014-2016 Flint Water Crisis. The Flint Child Health & Development Fund will be used to aid children with interventions that support positive health outcomes for Flint children, including:
- Immediate response
- Optimal child health & development
- Early childhood education
- Continuous access to a pediatric medical home
- Access to infant and child behavioral health services
- Nutrition education
- Healthy food access
- Safe & healthy home environments
- Integrated social services
- Research
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who disclosed the level of lead exposure for the children of Flint to the public is the founding donor of the fund and is leading the Pediatric Public Health Initiative that has been tasked with addressing lead exposure among the children of Flint, MI.
During the course of the event we will be using the hashtags #NYMG_G4G to share our stories and offer information about the effect of the Flint water crisis on the children of the community. The marathon will take place on Saturday, May 7, 2016, but we will be collecting donations from today until May 31, 2016.
Per the request of the organization we will be collecting donations online and sending them a lump sum payment at the end of the campaign. We will be doing this through our Paypal charity donation account and updating the donation totals regularly here.
Total raised as of May 7, 2016 (9 p.m.) $498.37 (can you guess how we got to that odd number?)
During the marathon we will host one of the marathoners on the NYMGamer Twitch channel as well as their regular Twitch channels. If you are interested in streaming as a part of this campaign please feel free to contact us via Twitter or email (nymgamer(at)gmail(dot)com in order to join in the fun!
Winter (February) 2016: Gaming Mammothon
On Saturday, February 13, 2016 we are hosting our second Gaming for Good event. The Gaming Mammothon seeks to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), which provides education and detection services for women across the country. Founded in 1991, the NBCF provides free and low-cost mammograms to women with limited resources and increases awareness about breast health through continuing education programs and online community support. As we researched organizations to support in this drive, we ultimately chose NBCF because it allocates less than 10% (each) of its budget to program administration and fundraising costs, leaving more than 80% going directly to the education and detection services.
During the course of the event we will be using the hashtags #NYMG_G4G to share our stories and offer information about breast cancer. The marathon will take place on Saturday, February 13, 2016 and the fundraising page will be active to continue to receive donations through February 29th.
All donations collected directly through NBCF fundraising portal.
During the marathon we will host one of the marathoners on the Nymgamer Twitch channel as well as their regular Twitch channels.
Fall 2015: Extra Life Gaming Marathon
This is our 6th year participating in this 24 hour gaming marathon that allows people to sponsor us at an hourly rate (or one lump sum) in order to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital of our choice. This year Sam, Alex, Alisha, Jenny, and Jen are all participating! Most of us will be streaming, periscoping, or doing regular updates throughout the grueling 24 hour period. Don’t miss out on the fun and support us if you can and feel free to join us as a member of Team NYMG!