“As it turned out, the cancellation received a lot of
attention from the media and prominent people within the gaming industry,” Wigal says. “Bungie Studios, the company that developed Halo, wrote letters to the local paper defending the game and offered to reimburse our rental fee. The school issued a refund, but as it turns out, the cancellation propelled us to the next level.” Buoyed by support from parents, gamers and video
game developers, Wigal decided to turn lemons into lemonade by staging the tournament anyway—this time turning it into a charity event.
Building a Foundation “After the school canceled the Halo tournament,
we became more aware of the negative stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding video games,” Wigal says. “That’s why we decided to change the event to a fundraiser. We wanted to break the myths about gaming and violence and show that games have the potential to be used for charitable purposes.” After 10 months of additional planning, Wigal and
his high school friends held their three-day Gamers for Giving tournament in early spring 2008 at the EMU student center. The event was a smashing success, attracting media coverage, drawing more than 500 gamers, and raising $4,000 for the Autism Society of Washtenaw County. “The tournament went well and was very exciting,”
Wigal says. “It was my first involvement with charity work. After the event ended, the importance of what we had done hit me. I decided to take the next step and create the Gamers Outreach Foundation. The gaming industry has a very passionate community. We want to provide video game enthusiasts with ongoing opportunities to use that passion for charitable purposes.” Wigal dove headfirst into his new endeavor, starting
with reading the book “Nonprofit Kit for Dummies.” His father, who worked as treasurer of Washtenaw Christian Academy, worked with a lawyer to complete
16 Eastern | FALL 2011
the 501(c)(3) paperwork. Four months later, Wigal had IRS approval and was off and running. Since then, the Gamers Outreach Foundation has
mobilized dozens of volunteers and become one of the gaming industry’s leading charities. The initial Gamers for Giving event has morphed into an annual tournament featuring multiple games, interactive displays, and sponsorships from companies such as Best Buy. The tournament has drawn up to 1,000 participants,
including professional gamers from across the country. Three of the four events were held at EMU. The foundation also coordinates online gaming tournaments and community game nights to raise funds for needy causes. All told, the foundation has raised $37,000 for charitable initiatives, such as supplying video game packages to American troops overseas and funding cancer and epilepsy research. Profits come from gamer entry fees and sponsorships. “I was just 17 when we launched the non-profit,”
Wigal says. “I didn’t realize how much work I was getting myself into. I didn’t have much experience in the for-profit world, let alone the non-profit sector. But it’s really a lot of fun. I get to work with video games and pursue charitable initiatives. The foundation is a passion of mine—I’ll always be involved in charity work.”
One of the most satisfying causes the foundation
supports is Project GO Kart, which provides gaming kiosks to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. The foundation teams with medical supply companies to produce the portable game carts, which help young patients deal with the burdens of lengthy hospital stays. Wigal personally delivered the first of two carts to Mott in September 2009. “Zach and the Gamers Outreach Foundation have
truly impacted the quality of service we deliver to our patients and families,” says Donovan Bowerbank, activity therapist at Mott. “Our long-term patients come for transplants and may receive treatment for
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