Gamers Outreach and ASUS Team Up to Bring Accessible Gaming to Children in Hospitals Nationwide

Fremont, California (February 13, 2020) - ASUS today announced its partnership with Gamers Outreach as the organization’s official monitor sponsor for 2020, with ASUS kicking off the sponsorship by supporting displays for 250 GO Karts to be delivered to children in hospitals nationwide. Gamers Outreach is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity organization that provides equipment, technology, and software through its GO Karts to help kids cope with treatment inside hospitals through the power of interactive play. ASUS will also serve as a returning sponsor of the annual Gamers for Giving fundraiser, taking place on March 28-29, 2020 at the EMU Convocation Center, that aims to raise over $700,000 to provide entertainment devices to hospitalized children and their families.

"This support from ASUS is a massive win for kids and families," said Zach Wigal, Founder of Gamers Outreach. "We strive to provide gamers in hospitals with the same quality gaming experiences they know at home. Having access to equipment from ASUS will help us deliver premium content, restoring a sense of normalcy and fun in the lives of patients undergoing treatment."

GO Karts (Gamers Outreach Kart) are portable, medical-grade video game kiosks equipped with a gaming console, monitor, controllers, and assortment of games. Thanks to GO Karts, healthcare workers can easily manage and provide games to kids who have limited activity options. Currently deployed across more than 200 facilities, Gamers Outreach estimates that its collective fleet can support as much as two million play sessions for children annually. Learn more about Gamers Outreach at https://gamersoutreach.org/.

“Gamers Outreach and the difference they make for children in hospitals is a truly incredible cause that we’re proud to be a part of,” said Gary Key, Sr. Director of Marketing at ASUS North America. “It is an honor to help serve hospitals, families and children during long-term stays by supporting the delivery of more GO Karts and the positive experiences they provide.”

Gamers Outreach Supports Healing Through Gaming

Founded in 2007, Gamers Outreach started as a group of high school students with a passion for playing video games. A long-time user of ASUS and Republic of Gamers products, founder Zach Wigal and his team built up Gamers Outreach throughout high school and college. After spending six months in 2009 volunteering at Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Gamers Outreach built its first GO Kart. The first cart was frequently used by Mott’s staff, and kids who were unable to socialize or participate in therapy now had easy access to recreation. Zach and the Gamers Outreach team also witnessed the wide variety of ways video games are used within hospitals as a means to provide relief. Whether it be for distraction, socialization, or even education, there are a range of purposes that games can serve within medical environments.

The Gamers Outreach organization has since evolved into a community of gaming enthusiasts eager to make a difference for kids in hospitals everywhere through initiatives like GO Karts and events like Gamers for Giving. Since Gamers Outreach’s inception in 2007, the organization has brought GO Karts to over 200 children’s hospitals across North America.