Give $1, Get Twice the Joy: Gaming 4 Good Brings Nintendo Switch Stations to Hospitalized Kids
Valnet has teamed up with Starlight Children’s Foundation, TheGamer, and GameRant to place mobile Nintendo Switch gaming stations in pediatric hospitals across North America through a campaign called Gaming 4 Good. The initiative pairs donations with a Valnet dollar-for-dollar match, and it also includes a donor giveaway supported by XSEED Games, Activision, and Turtle Beach.
Visit and stations
During a recent visit to Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center, staff and volunteers rolled five mobile Starlight Gaming Stations into a playroom. Each cart includes a Nintendo Switch, a Pro Controller, and two Joy-Cons, and it is designed to be mobile, easy to sanitize, and safe for hospital use. By the end of the day, the carts had been taken from room to room so patients who could not leave their beds could still play.
Why it matters
Every year, more than 3 million children are hospitalized in the United States. Some stays are short, while others last weeks or months. Consequently, hospital time can remove kids from school, friends, and everyday routines. Gaming 4 Good aims to restore a bit of normalcy by giving children the chance to play familiar games — and in turn, feel connected and comforted.
Fundraising and matching
The campaign’s immediate goal is to raise $25,000. Valnet will match donations dollar-for-dollar, which means the effort would total $50,000 if the goal is met. Every $5,000 raised will place another Starlight Gaming Station in a hospital. Therefore, donations directly increase the number of mobile stations available to patients.
To learn more or to support the effort, readers can help by visiting the campaign page on Valnet’s site: help us raise funds.
Giveaway and prizes
Additionally, the campaign includes a giveaway to encourage donations. Donors will be entered to win one of three grand-prize bundles that include gaming headsets, controllers, and titles such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Story of Seasons, and Rune Factory 3 across PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox. In total, there are 29 winners, and winners will be announced on Oct. 7.
How to donate
If you want to contribute, Donate here. Every dollar you give is matched by Valnet, so your contribution goes twice as far. In short, small donations combine to place more stations in hospitals and create more moments of play for children who need them.
