Watch ESA Foundation scholarship recipient Teresa Ibarra's story by clicking on the image above. Applications for 2017-18 ESA Foundation scholarships must be submitted by May 4, 2017. The ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Scholarship Program was established in 2007 to assist women and minority students pursuing degrees that lead to careers in computer and video game arts. The program is part of the ESA Foundation's continuing efforts to promote diversity within the computer and video game industry. Q&A with ESA Foundation Scholarship Recipient Warren Lindsey Warren Lindsey (second from right), ESA Foundation scholarship recipient, with the Hong Kong VR developer team. Since its inception in 2007, the ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $1 million to help women and minority students pursue their dreams of a career in computer and video games. To get a real sense of how the program is changing lives, the ESA Foundation talked to senior at Savannah College of Art and Design Warren Lindsey about his experience as a scholarship recipient and his passion for video games. Read the full Q&A here. See samples of Warren's work here. ESA Foundation Accepting 2018 Grant Applications ESA Foundation grants help support organizations utilizing video games to tackle social challenges and build stronger communities across the US. The ESA Foundation grant program is now accepting letters of inquiry for 2018 funding. The program supports nonprofit organizations that foster youth development and education through engagement with video games and technology. This is the first time eligible organizations can submit a letter of inquiry before a full proposal and grant application. Since 2000, the ESA Foundation has raised more than $20 million in support of organizations leveraging interactive technologies to create meaningful improvements in communities across the nation. Grant recipients for 2017 included Brown University's Bootstrap, The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Extra Life, iCivics, the Smithsonian Institutions's American Art Museum, and VisionQuest 20/20. ESA Foundation grants are available to charitable and nonprofit organizations that use entertainment software and technology in innovative ways to educate America's youth. Eligible organizations are invited to submit a letter of inquiry to the ESA Foundation by 11:59 p.m. EDT May 15, 2017. Selected organizations will then be invited to submit a full application by July 10, 2017. Extra Life United 2017 Sees Record Turnout ESA Foundation Executive Director Anastasia Staten (middle) presents checks to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and University of Vermont Children's Hospital at Extra Life United 2017. More than 300 people attended the recent Extra Life United 2017 video game tournament, a new record for the annual fundraising event. Held March 23-25 in Orlando, Florida, the Extra Life-hosted tournament featured players from across the US competing to raise money for their local Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals. During the event, children who survived life-threatening illnesses at CMN Hospitals were honored. The ESA Foundation also presented checks to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital and University of Vermont Children's Hospital, winners of the third annual ESA Foundation Extra Life Challenge. Extra Life brings together thousands of players around the world in a 24-hour gaming marathon to support CMN Hospitals. Since its inception in 2008, it has raised more than $30 million. In 2016 alone, the Extra Life community came together to raise more than $9.6 million. For more information about Extra Life and how you can support the organization, visit here. Nite to Unite Raises More Than $700,000 The ESA Foundation's 19th annual Nite to Unite charity gala in San Francisco, California. The ESA Foundation's 19th annual Nite to Unite (NTU) charity gala was attended by more than 600 members of the video game community and raised more than $700,000 for programs that help kids pursue their dreams of becoming game developers, encourage inclusivity in the video game industry, and support organizations leveraging the power of video games to benefit children. This year's honorees were legendary video game designer Sid Meier and Founder of Extra Life Jeromy Adams. You can view a recap of the event here. One of the critical initiatives NTU donors supported was the ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Scholarship Program. If you did not have a chance to donate to the scholarship fund and would like to do so, you can use the following link to complete your gift. |