ApplyBoard is excited to join Extra Life, a 24-hour gaming marathon in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, on Saturday, November 7, 2020. Taking place virtually, the ApplyBoard Team will come together after a long week of work for 24-hours of streaming, gaming, and most importantly, raising money #ForTheChildren.
ApplyBoard’s Extra Life team logo
About Extra Life
Extra Life began in 2008 as a way to honour a young girl from Texas named Victoria. Victoria enjoyed playing video games, and during her battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the local gaming community supported her by donating games and consoles to lift her spirits during treatment. Victoria lost her battle to cancer in January 2008, and to honour her memory, they hosted the first-ever Extra Life, a 24- hour gaming marathon in support of sick and injured children.
Since the first event in 2008, Extra Life has continued to grow, bringing together more gamers and raising more than US$70 million for sick and injured children across North America. All money raised through this event is donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, in support of local hospitals across North America. The Children’s Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the US and Canada.
Isaac K-S, Team Captain
Bringing the event to life at ApplyBoard is IT Administrator Isaac K-S. Speaking about his experience with Extra Life, Isaac shared, “I love gaming, and one day I was thinking about how to combine my love of gaming with doing good, and that’s how I stumbled upon Extra Life.” Isaac explained that this event has a special meaning for him. “I met my significant other while participating in ExtraLife. We participate in this event together each year as an anniversary tradition.”
Inspired by his previous experience, Isaac approached our ApplyCare committee to bring this event to ApplyBoard. ApplyCare is an employee-led committee that plans events and fundraisers for the causes close to the hearts of ApplyBoardians. Isaac believed that this event and the mission would resonate with ApplyBoard team members, sharing “ApplyBoard touches the lives of students around the world, and to be successful students, you need to be healthy. It was a perfect fit for our organization, while also supporting our mission.”
Isaac, IT Administrator and captain of ApplyBoard’s Extra Life team
Team ApplyBoard
Team ApplyBoard currently consists of 19 gamers, including staff, their families, and professional gamers from the community. Each team member is raising funds for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including Children’s Health Foundation in London, Ontario, and Sick Kids in Toronto.
On November 7, Team ApplyBoard gamers will live stream for 24-hours on the ApplyBoard Twitch channel. Throughout the event, ApplyBoard staff will be able to join their colleagues to play video games with company leaders, listen to our gamers host interviews, and have the chance to win some awesome prizes!
The Goal: Raise $10,000 #ForTheChildren
The team has set an aggressive goal of raising $10,000. Since September, Team ApplyBoard has been reaching out to their networks to collect donations and invite members to get in on the action. The team has also secured support from local organizations, including Arctic Coffee Roasters, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Waterloo Brewing.
Team ApplyBoard is so serious about reaching their fundraising goal that some staff have put their hair—including facial hair—on the line! If the team reaches the $10,000 fundraising goal, Meti Basiri, ApplyBoard Co-Founder and CMO, will cut his hair. Isaac, as well as Iman, Head of ApplyProof, have also agreed to shave their beards.
Some of our team members have offered additional incentives to encourage donations. Melica, a Data Scientist at ApplyBoard, is making Cherry Blossom Ball origami for each person who donates through her fundraising page. Melica shared that she was inspired to participate in this event because of personal experience “When I was 3, I broke my jaw, my teeth, and my chin and needed surgery. I know what it is like to be a child in pain, and I am fundraising so that families can be there for their children instead of worrying about financial issues”.
Isaac, ApplyBoard’s Extra Life team captain, with the evidence of bets from ApplyBoard team members
Iman, Director of ApplyProof Partnerships, has agreed to shave his beard if the Extra Life team reaches their $10,000 fundraising goal
Making a Difference in the Community
While this will be the first time we are participating in Extra Life, but Team ApplyBoard organizers are already looking forward to making this fundraiser an annual tradition at the organization, and hope to increase the amount raised year over year.
This year has been full of challenges, but being able to come together with colleagues and raise money through Extra Life has been a meaningful way to make a difference in the community.
You can donate to Team ApplyBoard’s fundraising page and follow along on our live stream.
