Bethesda Announces Record-Breaking Donation to the ESA Foundation And the award for single largest donation to the ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Arts Scholarship Program goes to… Bethesda Softworks for its incredible $100,000 contribution. The donation was announced by Bethesda at The Game Awards 2017 in a tongue-in-cheek video about saving single-player gamers and video games. The video featured actress Lynda Carter, known for her role as the original Wonder Woman and her voice work in Bethesda games, and the awards show was streamed on more than 11.5 million devices. “Thank you, Bethesda Softworks, for this generous gift,” said Anastasia Staten, executive director of the ESA Foundation. “This donation will transform and expand opportunities for women and minority students pursuing their dream of a computer science or video game arts degree, and it will help the ESA Foundation continue its mission of fostering diversity, gender balance, and inclusion in the video game industry and empowering the next generation of video game developers.” Bethesda’s donation will also help establish a new mentorship program network connecting ESA Foundation scholars with previous scholarship recipients and video game industry professionals. Applications for the 2018-19 Computer and Video Game Arts Scholarship Program will be accepted February 1 - April 26, 2018. To learn more, visit www.ESAFoundationScholars.org. You can be the next supporter of future video game innovators! ‘We Are’ Hits the Road, Fostering Inclusion in Video Game Industry The ESA Foundation presents its We Are exhibit at Red Bull Battlegrounds, highlighting the outstanding contributions of women in the video game industry. The ESA Foundation’s We Are exhibit took center stage at several industry events in 2017, celebrating women in video games and showcasing their contributions as creators, players, and innovators. We Are, created in partnership with Red Bull Media House, is a multimedia activation that features photos of female role models from across the video game community and their inspirational stories. By putting a spotlight on the roles of women in video games, the exhibit seeks to drive conversations about gender balance and inclusion and encourage more girls in STEM and arts fields to consider a career in the video game industry. Following its debut at E3, the exhibit’s next stop was TwitchCon 2017, the third annual convention for the ever-growing streaming community. Photographer and director Piper Ferguson photographed female attendees, who shared their experiences and advice for aspiring video game industry professionals. Next, the ESA Foundation teamed up with Red Bull’s esports team to prominently place We Are at Red Bull Battle Grounds. Working with women from the Boston area and the Fighting Game Community (FGC), We Are hosted a networking breakfast that included ESA Foundation scholars and Massachusetts Institute of Technology students Sharon Lin and Jenny Xu. Carolyn Dao, prominent FGC member and creator of progressive video game group Combo Queens shared how the initiative provides an important platform to support female talent. “I believe the ESA Foundation is strengthening the presence of women by giving us a sense of inclusion, and also giving young women some role models to look up to,” Dao observed. “It’s amazing to see all of these women now, and exciting to see who we’ll be inspiring to build the future.” Finally, the exhibit was front and center at the PlayStation Experience at Capcom Cup 2017, serving as a beacon for women and girls who want to play a larger role in the video game industry. One such individual is Kai Morton, aspiring video game developer and member of Black Girls Code. The ESA Foundation spoke with Kai at the event’s Teen Vogue Summit about her passion for developing video games. “After playing World of Warcraft forever, that’s what I wanted to do,” said Kai. “I started coding because I wanted to create video games. It seemed reasonable and easy at first, but I didn’t even realize how many developers went into each game and I love how creating video games brings so many people together to work toward one end goal: a totally awesome game!” Stay tuned to see where the We Are exhibit will pop up next and for an exciting announcement in the new year! Black Girls Code member Kai Morton plays video games in the PlayStation Truck at the Teen Vogue Summit. ESA Foundation Highlights Ways to Give Back at TwitchCon 2017 ESA Foundation Executive Director Anastasia Staten discusses how gamers can get involved with charities at TwitchCon 2017. (Source: Twitch) To be enthusiastic and dedicated champions for their communities, gamers need only follow their passion for video games. In a panel titled Video Gamers as Heroes, ESA Foundation Executive Director Anastasia Staten took the stage at TwitchCon 2017 to discuss how gamers can leverage their love of video games to positively impact their communities by engaging with charities. “There are so many great organizations out there and so many great opportunities to get involved in, but just start with your passion for video games and go from there,” Staten said. “It starts with that community and starts small until you see the impact that interactive technology has in making a difference.” The full panel can be viewed here. The ESA Foundation spoke to its 2017-18 Computer and Video Game Arts Scholarship recipient Tré Lannon, who just completed his first semester at the University of Southern California (USC). Read the Q&A to learn more about his experiences at USC, what the scholarship meant to him, and what type of video games he wants to develop after he graduates. Since its inception in 2007, the ESA Foundation Computer and Video Game Arts Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $1 million to help women and minority students pursue their dreams of a career in computer and video games. Join Us at the 20th Anniversary of Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 20th annual Nite to Unite. It is sure to be a memorable anniversary event, bringing together the video game community to celebrate the best of the industry, support a great cause, and network. You can be part of the excitement and help the ESA Foundation make a difference in the lives of future game developers by sponsoring the event or making a donation. To purchase tickets, make a donation, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact the foundation at NTU@TheESA.com or call (202)-903-2310. Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2018 Nite to Unite honorees in the coming weeks. See you March 20 in San Francisco! Happy Holidays from the ESA Foundation The ESA Foundation would like to thank its donors and supporters for their generous contributions, which helped make 2017 a successful year. In 2017, the ESA Foundation awarded 35 scholarships to outstanding women and minority students to help them move one step closer to achieving their dreams of a career in video games. Through its grant program, the foundation provided transformational grants to six organizations that leverage interactive technologies to create meaningful improvements in communities across the nation. The ESA Foundation also hosted several successful events, including its signature annual fundraiser Nite to Unite, which raised more than $700,000 this year, and worked closely with the video game community – through partnerships with Twitch, Humble Bundle, and video game companies Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, and 2K Games – to advance its mission of making a positive difference in the lives of America’s youth. All of us here at the ESA Foundation wish you and your families a happy holiday season and a joyful new year, and we look forward to continuing the amazing work we have accomplished together to empower the next generation of video game innovators. |