ESA Foundation raises $468k for scholarship program, multiple non-profits
Charity livestreaming event included over 40 streamers raising money for Black Girls Code, Direct Relief, Trevor Project, and more
The ESA Foundation has announced that its recent charity livestream "Say Goodbye to 2020 - For Good" has raised a total of over $468,000, which will go toward the Foundation's scholarship program as well as a number of charities.
$389,634 of the total will go to the ESA Foundation, and used to fully fund its scholarship program for women and minorities students in the 2021 - 2022 school year. This includes support for video game arts and science degrees, as well as collegiate esports athletes, and will assist a minimum of 26 students.
The total will also support the ESA Foundation's ongoing efforts to partner with nonprofits and schools for educational programs that build STEM skills through game design, promote games industry careers, and otherwise support students interested in gaming and gaming-adjacent endeavors.
The remainder of the money raised by the event's more than 40 streamers will be split between a number of charities, including the following donations:
- Black Girls Code: $46,620
- Direct Relief: $1,206
- No kid Hungry: $3,924
- The Trevor Project: $10,000
- Project Tomorrow: $6,250
- Rise Above the Disorder: $1,505
- Warfighter Engaged: $11,250
- Austin Pets Alive: $4,080
"Many underserved communities don't have the luxury of just saying 'goodbye' to 2020 and moving on," said Anastasia Staten, executive director of the ESA Foundation. "The COVID pandemic presented many people with unprecedented challenges while also highlighting many inequalities within this country.
"So we thought, 'Why not reach out to our friends in the video game community and end 2020 on a high note -- for good?' Over the course of five days, #gg2020 hosted over a dozen livestreams that helped us raise almost half a million dollars for the Foundation's scholarship program as well as a handful of other charities chosen by the participating streamers.
"Those funds will hopefully go a long way for the organizations involved, ending such a difficult year with some much-needed and tangible positivity."
