Gamers Outreach Foundation

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Gamers Outreach Foundation is a 501(c)(3) (status pending) non-profit organization which utilizes video games and other forms of interactive entertainment as tools for various charity and community related projects. The organization takes a pro-active approach towards promoting the positive affects gaming has on the life of an individual by initiating programs which bring light to the vast potential and versatility of video games. Additionally, (though it is more a bi-product of the organization’s work) Gamers Outreach Foundation works to promote a positive image of gaming and gamers in light of recent attacks from advocates of media censorship, and to dispel negative stereotypes often associated with playing video games. The organization operates based on the philosophy that video games can offer a fun, competitive, educational, social, and positive interactive experience to their players.

[edit] History

Interestingly, the creation of Gamers Outreach Foundation was a direct result of the negative stereotypes and misconceptions that often surround video games.

In December of 2006, Saline, Michigan resident and high school student Zach Wigal decided to host a large-scale Halo 2 tournament for his school’s student body. After having discussed the idea with his school counselor, and future Gamers Outreach Foundation co-founder Nick Russell, the teen stepped into the town’s local community education department and was given permission to use the school facilities for the event. Planning to host the tournament on March 24th, 2007 – Zach assembled a group of friends who aided him in planning and preparing for the big day. The group of friends spent the next few months working hard to make sure the tournament would be a success. With one week remaining before the event, over 300 of their fellow peers had registered to take part in an exciting weekend of gaming activities.

However 3 days before the tournament was scheduled to take place, a local public safety official, (who was a advocate of an organization known as the Parents Television Council – which strongly opposes Mature rated games such as Halo) heard news of the tournament. Upon learning that the tournament was going to take place on the Saline High premises, the official quickly contacted the Saline Schools superintendent, adamantly opposing the game being played in the facility. “This is a game that is on our radar screen,” according to a transcript of the message. “We believe (it is) corrupting the minds of our youth, and now someone is going to bring this game to the high school.”

While in a later interview, the public safety official stated he did not ask the superintendent to cancel the tournament, she quickly directed the community education officials to cancel the permit that had been granted to Zach in December of 06. Though Zach met with the superintendent the next day, and proposed several compromises, (such as parental consent forms for participants under 17 etc) she was adamant about canceling the tournament. News of the tournament’s cancellation spread quickly throughout the community, making the front page of the town’s local paper, and then spreading to the Ann Arbor news. From there, the story began to circulate around the internet – most notably a website known as digg, where within 4 hours the story received over 1700 diggs.

After receiving much encouragement from individuals and from the gaming community, and in an effort to prove wrong those who were responsible for the cancellation of their tournament, the group of friends began to plan a new Halo tournament that would benefit charity.

In the process of planning, the group of friends realized the potential for a vast array of charity projects, which could utilize video games. As a result, Zach, and longtime friend Nick Russell founded Gamers Outreach Foundation. On February 29th, March 1st, and March 2nd - Gamers Outreach Foundation (along with Michigan's largest PC LAN event MPcon) hosted "Gamers for Giving" which was both the kickoff event for Gamers Outreach Foundation, and the comeback Halo tournament for Zach and his friends. Through the event, Gamers Outreach Foundation was able to raise $4,000 dollars for a local chapter of the Autism Society of America.

[edit] Gamers 4 Giving (GOFcon)

Gamers for Giving
Feb 29th - March 2nd 2008
EMU Student Center
PC LAN / Halo 3 Tournament

Gamers for Giving will start February 29th, 2008, and will end on Sunday morning March 2nd. The event is a 3 day non stop PC LAN *hosted by MPCon combined with a 2vs2 double elimination Halo 3 tournament. The PC LAN will begin on Friday at 2:00 PM (EST) and will end on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM (EST). The Halo 3 tournament will take place on Saturday March 1st, and will begin at 11:00 AM EST and will end later in the evening. We'll be awarding $1000.00 to the winning Halo 3 team, and $500.00 to the team that finishes in 2nd place.

Aside from the tournaments, the event raised over $4000 for the Autism Society of Washtenaw County - a local branch of the Autism Society of America.

To check out pictures of the event, go here

Halo 3
1st Place- FBI The Agency
2nd Place- Little Rascals

Counter-Strike Source
1st Place- Team CyGamZ
2nd Place- Team Mythlogic
3rd Place- Team Melissa Marie Gaming

Call of Duty 4
1st Place- Team Ready Up
2nd Place- Team Twisted

Trackmania Nations
1st Place- Hol
2nd Place- Spartan IPC
3rd Place- Crazy Muffin IPC

Team Fortress 2
1st Place-Team ESX
2nd Place-Team Balls'R'Hurtin

War§ow Quick Draw Winners
1) Evil Tommy
2) Rooted
3) jTin