In the interview, Taylor and Jim talked in-depth about the beginnings of GameChanger and why we were created. Taylor Carol also tells the story of his own battle with a rare form of blood Cancer and how the games he played during that time were critical for bringing comfort and joy. With a focus on bringing the latest tech to the hands of our users, GameChanger was founded with the purpose to build a community for hospitals and patients and to provide the comfort that they are not alone. Our priority is set on spreading joy to hospitalized, sick children through comfort therapy with new games and technology.

Watch the interview linked below:

Tech Avengers changing the game for sick kids

The post GameChangers: Tech Avengers Featured in Good Day LA first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

Dana Point, Calif., October 28, 2021 – GameChanger Charity, a nonprofit that provides relief to young patients in hospitals including their families and caregivers, today unveiled its “Road Trip for Good,” a multi-city, multi-stop campaign to raise awareness of the organization and bring hope and happiness to sick children who are currently being treated for debilitating illnesses such as cancer.

Jim Carol, the charity’s cofounder, will begin his 1500-mile journey in San Diego on November 7 and then drive north along Interstate 5, completing his nine-day trip in Seattle on November 16, where he will meet with the team at Microsoft Xbox. Other cities to be visited include Irvine (November 8), Los Angeles (November 10), Santa Barbara (November 11), San Francisco (November 12) and Portland (November 13).

Carol, a former tech entrepreneur and pioneer in streaming video technology, established GameChanger Charity in 2007 when his son Taylor, then 11 years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. As Taylor found comfort and connection in video games during treatment, Jim made it his mission to provide other hospitalized kids with free access to the latest video games, movies, virtual reality and other forms of distraction therapy that provided relief from their pain and isolation, which has worsened significantly throughout the pandemic.

“With the additional threat of Covid-19, times have been horrible for any child with a life-threatening illness,” said Jim Carol. “Services have been cut, staff decimated, and children have had to suffer with the inability of people being able to visit or deliver gifts and goodies. Along with our interactive GameChanger Private Network, our road trip is designed to help ease the pain, suffering and isolation these kids may be experiencing, as well as their families and caregivers, while making it easier for our partners to donate in-kind items.”

During his “Road Trip for Good,” Carol will be accepting gifts such as toys, video games, and other gear and collectible items to be distributed to local pediatric hospitals, including Children's Hospital of Orange County (November 8), Miller Children's and Women's Hospital (November 10) and Valley Children's Hospital (November 12). He also will be meeting with donors and gaming companies as part of the charity’s fundraising efforts and in-kind contribution drive.

Daily updates of Jim’s travels will be posted on GameChanger’s social platforms, where those interested can engage, share and get involved in the charity’s mission of helping sick and isolated children.

Based in Dana Point, Calif., GameChanger Charity is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Jim Carol and his son Taylor, inspired by Taylor’s battle with pediatric cancer.

GameChanger’s mission is to bring happiness, hope and connection to hospitalized children all over the world primarily through the GameChanger Private Network, an interactive platform that gives patients, families and caregivers relief by providing free access to the latest video games, movies, virtual reality and other forms of distraction therapy. Accredited by STEM.org and recently awarded GuideStar’s (now Candid) Platinum Seal of Transparency, the charity has grown to help 25,000 children and 6,500 caregivers across several continents. Get involved at gamechangercharity.org/ and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Media Contact:

George Medici
Maisey McGinnis
PondelWilkinson
gmedici@pondel.com
mmcginnis@pondel.com
310.279.5968

The post GameChanger Charity Founder to Embark on ‘Road Trip for Good’ to Help Sick Kids in Hospitals first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

WHO: Ryan Polun steps into the boxing ring at Hammerstein Ballroom to honor his late father-in-law and raise $10,000 for pediatric cancer patients. For the past several months, 34-year-old Polun has trained physically and mentally for this moment in the spotlight, hosted by Haymakers for Hope, the non-profit that gives everyday people the opportunity to lace up the gloves and fight back against cancer. Polun is fighting for GameChanger Charity.

Donation link: https://haymakersforhope.org/event/new-york-city/2021/hope-nyc-ix/ryan-polun

WHAT: Haymakers for Hope gives everyday people a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train for and compete in their first sanctioned boxing event. Hope NYC IX will bring 26 amateur boxers together, including Ryan Polun and his opponent Vincent Cesare, to duke it out in front of thousands of supporters to raise money for their chosen causes. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

WHEN: Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. EDT

WHERE: Hammerstein Ballroom at 311 W 34th St., NY, NY 10001

WHY: To raise awareness and funds for GameChanger Charity so the organization can continue to provide relief for hospitalized children with life-threatening illnesses. The charity provides premium video games, movies, live streams and educational content as distraction therapy and pain mitigation at no cost for thousands of isolated patients as well as their families and caregivers.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Media are invited to cover the event in-person and include in calendar listings. Advance press images are available here.

About GameChanger Charity

Based in Dana Point, Calif., GameChanger Charity is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Jim Carol and his son Taylor, inspired by Taylor’s battle with pediatric cancer. GameChanger’s mission is to bring happiness, hope and connection to hospitalized children all over the world primarily through the GameChanger Private Network, an interactive platform that gives patients, families and caregivers relief by providing free access to the latest video games, movies, virtual reality and other forms of distraction therapy. Accredited by STEM.org and recently awarded GuideStar’s (now Candid) Platinum Seal of Transparency, the charity has grown to help 25,000 children and 6,500 caregivers across several continents. Get involved at gamechangercharity.org/ and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Haymakers for Hope

H4H is an official 501(c)(3) charity organization that provides the opportunity to fight back against cancer. They help everyday people train for — and compete in — a sanctioned charity boxing event to raise funds for cancer research, care, awareness and survivorship. To prepare for each event, they combine the efforts of local boxing gyms and volunteers, and match boxers up with someone of a similar experience level (even if that experience level is “none”). At the end of the journey, they compete in front of thousands of supporters, and win or lose they’ll step into and out of the ring a champion.

In 2009, founders Andrew Myerson and Julie Anne Kelly participated in the New York City Golden Gloves. They decided that competing against the city’s best boxers wasn’t enough and decided to raise money for cancer research. This planted the seeds for Haymakers for Hope. Today, H4H provides amateur boxers with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in their first sanctioned boxing event. The experience is impactful, challenging, and life-changing, and the march towards a cure will continue long after the last match of the night. Not every fight ends at the bell. Learn more at https://haymakersforhope.org.

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Media Contacts:

George Medici
PondelWilkinson
gmedici@pondel.com
310.279.5968

Charles Upchurch
French | West | Vaughan
cupchurch@​fwv-​us.com
919.395.1588

The post Manhattan Esports And Gaming Executive Ryan Polun Enters Boxing Ring On Thursday, Nov. 18 To Knock Out Cancer first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

Dana Point, Calif., October 26, 2021 – GameChanger Charity and Foretell Reality today announced a partnership to deliver Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) games and tools to leading pediatric facilities through the GameChanger Private Network, helping to transform the hospital experience for seriously ill and isolated children. The VR and AR technologies are specially developed by Foretell Reality to enhance mental wellbeing by mitigating pain, loneliness and anxiety.

Children’s Health of Orange County (CHOC) in California and Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., are among 10 hospitals designated to receive the technology.

GameChanger Private Network, a secure multi-channel, interactive platform provided at no cost to hospitals by GameChanger Charity, is the pipeline that delivers the latest video games, movies, VR and AR experiences, as well as other forms of distraction therapy, to patients, families and caregivers. Foretell Reality is a subsidiary company of The Glimpse Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRAR), a VR and AR platform company comprised of multiple software and services companies. Foretell developed its technologies to enhance human interaction for patient therapy and support, soft skills training, learning and collaboration.

“Our partnership with GameChanger Charity comes at a critical time for hospitals looking for innovative therapies for patients isolated by the pandemic,” said Dror Goldberg, GM, Foretell Reality & VP Product, The Glimpse Group. “This is exactly what our VR and AR experiences are designed to do.”

Pandemic conditions have worsened the acute anxiety of hospitalization for children isolated in treatment and long-term care. COVID-19 restrictions for immunocompromised patients mean no visitors, no friends or classmates, no pet therapists. In what continues to be a difficult and painful time, innovations like VR and AR can bring hope, connection and joy to those who need it most.

For a kid with cancer who has never visited Paris, or never seen snow, VR can replicate a snowfall in the City of Light. They can be immersed in the 360-degree world of a video game, or hang out with family and friends in the familiar surroundings of home – without leaving the hospital room. With the ability to take someone to the moon or to their own kitchen, the Foretell Reality VR and AR platform offers social interactions such as group therapy (with the privacy of an avatar), a walk in the outdoors, or a game of catch. A lifelong wish can be granted in a 3D virtual world.

“Foretell’s technology offers advanced patient experiences that can have a positive impact on the overall wellbeing of the children we are working to help each day,” said Jim Carol, cofounder and CEO of GameChanger Charity. “Dror and his team share our passion for relieving the pain and suffering of isolated kids and their families, and just as importantly, the caregivers who are working tirelessly on the front lines.”

Carol, a former tech entrepreneur, launched GameChanger Charity as his son, 11-year-old Taylor, persevered through a five-year battle with leukemia with the help of video games and interactive technology. Now 26 and in full recovery, Taylor inspired Jim to build a digital network that could bring social connection and distraction therapy to sick, isolated kids. With the help of Amazon Web Services, Twitch, Microsoft Xbox and other top tech leaders, GameChanger Private Network is available in leading pediatric hospitals across the country.

GameChanger Charity continues to develop the technology and content offerings of its GameChanger Private Network, assisted by a powerhouse board of directors nicknamed the “Tech Avengers,” including Amazon Web Services VP of healthcare Dave Levy, Twitch founder and CEO Emmett Shear, Microsoft Xbox CFO Tim Stuart, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman and YouTube VP of Content Malik Ducard.

The power of play and authentic human interactions, whether in the real or virtual world, have  shown positive effects on psycho-social wellbeing and, it is contended, on patient outcomes. As VR capabilities evolve, therapeutic applications and benefits will expand. Hands-free commands will enable a patient who can’t hold a controller to play a video game. Patients can take an in-person tour of a clinical facility and preview their upcoming treatment to reduce anxiety.

Foretell’s VR platform transports users to another dimension, away from the mundane hospital environment, while doing what no other technology can do: put them in the same space, together.

About GameChanger Charity

Based in Dana Point, Calif., GameChanger Charity is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Jim Carol and his son Taylor, inspired by Taylor’s battle with pediatric cancer. GameChanger’s mission is to bring happiness, hope and connection to hospitalized children all over the world primarily through the GameChanger Private Network, an interactive platform that gives patients, families and caregivers relief by providing free access to the latest video games, movies, virtual reality and other forms of distraction therapy. The charity has grown to help 25,000 children and 6,500 caregivers with more than $25 million in donations. Get involved at gamechangercharity.org/ and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Foretell Reality

Foretell Reality is a social virtual reality platform that supports many different types of avatars with varying degrees of realism and expression for different use cases including VR therapy and support, soft skills training, and business collaboration. For more details: https://foretellreality.com/

About The Glimpse Group, Inc.

The Glimpse Group (NASDAQ: VRAR) is a diversified Virtual and Augmented Reality platform company, comprised of multiple VR and AR software & services companies, and designed with the specific purpose of cultivating companies in the emerging VR/AR industry. Glimpse’s unique business model simplifies challenges faced by VR/AR companies and creates a robust ecosystem, while simultaneously providing investors an opportunity to invest directly into the emerging VR/AR industry via a diversified platform. For more information on The Glimpse Group, please visit www.theglimpsegroup.com

Media Contacts:

George Medici
PondelWilkinson
gmedici@pondel.com
310.279.5968

Charles Upchurch
French | West | Vaughan
cupchurch@​fwv-​us.com
919.395.1588

The post GameChanger Charity and Foretell Reality to deliver virtual reality therapy to hospitalized children first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

Dana Point, Calif., October 5, 2021 — Malik Ducard, VP of Content Partnerships at YouTube, has joined Steve Huffman, CEO of Reddit, as the newest members of a powerhouse board of “Tech Avengers” at GameChanger Charity (GCC), the non-profit providing streaming technology and premium content to hospitalized children battling cancer and other illnesses.

Ducard, whose career includes stints at Paramount, Lionsgate, Showtime and MGM Home Entertainment, joined the GameChanger “conspiracy of good” in August, following Huffman who joined earlier this year. Other members of the board include Dave Levy, VP of Healthcare at Amazon Web Services, Emmett Shear, founder and CEO of Twitch and Tim Stuart, CFO of Microsoft Xbox. The full board of directors, composed of national leaders in healthcare, tech and innovation, can be found here.

Founded by Jim Carol, a pioneer in streaming video technology, GameChanger was formed in 2007 when Carol’s son Taylor, then 11 years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. As Taylor found comfort and connection in video games during treatment, Jim made it his mission to provide other hospitalized kids with access to games, movies and streaming content that provided relief from their pain and isolation, which has worsened significantly under Covid.

With help from tech giants including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Reddit, Twitch, YouTube and others, the GameChanger Private Network has emerged as a global leader in distraction therapy and pain mitigation for seriously ill children. The cloud-based platform provides pediatric hospitals with ad-free premium content, video games, livestreams, educational tools and virtual reality experiences with the goal of reducing anxiety and isolation and promoting healing through a sense of normalcy.

“Like the other members of our incredible board, Malik and Steve are truly passionate about GameChanger’s mission of leveraging technology and innovation to ease the pain and suffering of sick children, their families and caregivers,” said Jim Carol. “The resurgence of Covid-19 and other variants have elevated the risk and isolation for immunocompromised patients even further, which makes the caregiver’s job that much harder, and makes our work that much more important.”

Through donated advertising, Subreddit content and other initiatives, Huffman is leveraging Reddit’s global reach to help GameChanger expand community relationships, raise awareness and encourage interaction. “Reddit users are very aware of the power our platform gives them to create a movement and have a real impact on issues they care about,” said Huffman. “We’re excited about our ability to help make a positive difference for kids who need all the love and support we can give them.”

Ducard, who is excited to bring his passion for equity and social impact to GameChanger, said, “I look forward to working with Jim and the extraordinary group he has assembled to fulfill the GameChanger mission.”

About GameChanger Charity

Based in Dana Point, Calif., GameChanger Charity is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Jim Carol and his son Taylor, inspired by Taylor’s battle with pediatric cancer. GameChanger’s mission is to bring happiness, hope and connection to hospitalized children all over the world primarily through the GameChanger Private Network, an interactive platform that gives patients, families and caregivers relief by providing free access to the latest video games, movies, virtual reality and other forms of distraction therapy. The charity has grown to help 25,000 children and 6,500 caregivers with more than $25 million in donations. Get involved at gamechdev.wpenginepowered.com/ and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

#   #   #

Media Contacts:

George Medici
PondelWilkinson
gmedici@pondel.com
310.279.5968

Charles Upchurch
French | West | Vaughan
cupchurch@​fwv-​us.com
919.395.1588

The post YouTube VP Malik Ducard and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman Join Board of Directors first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

“Fueled by the near-death experience of his son, Taylor, a leukemia survivor, Jim is on a mission to leverage his experience and passion to change the world for families facing similar challenges. The GameChanger Private Network is his magnum opus in a lifetime of devotion to building a “Conspiracy of Good” which has donated more than $25 million in technology and assets to sick children, their families, and caregivers.”

Our Founder and CEO, Jim Carol, has been featured in Authority Magazine, where he went into detail on the efforts of GameChanger Charity. The impact of Jim and GameChanger has been noticeable, and we hope to continue to grow as a beacon of hope in the communities we are working with. Read the article linked below for more insight on how the team’s mission began, and what is on the horizons for us going forward.

The interview includes a look at how we at GameChanger are just beginning to tell our story, and has a ton of great insight on what Jim and the charity have encountered and achieved over the last few years. We are so honored to be featured in Authority Magazine and have our founder provide insight on all of the ways that we want to continue spreading the Joy of GameChanger.

Authority Magazine GameChanger’s Jim Carol Interview (Click text for article)

The post Jim Carol and GameChanger Authority Magazine Interview first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

It’s been said that life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

In the early 2000s, Jim Carol’s plan was to become a global pioneer in streaming video technology for smartphones.

He succeeded. Carol’s company, PacketVideo, was the first to enable delivery of rich multimedia software on mobile phones and it now runs on more than 1 billion cellphones.

This brought him wealth and prestige.

But when his 11-year-old son, Taylor, was diagnosed with a rare type of leukemia in 2006 and forced into hospital isolation, Carol pivoted…..

Please read on here.

The post Nonprofit GameChanger Going All Out to Help Kids with Cancer, Other Serious Illnesses first appeared on GameChanger Charity.

The GameChanger Private Network is a software unique to GameChanger that provides direct comfort, security, and relief to sick children and their families through a world of digital content. In their time of pain and suffering through their child’s debilitating illness, the GameChanger Platform was been created to alleviate the day-to-day struggles that the Carols became familiar with. With an emphasis on bringing Joy directly to patients and easing the experience in their day-to-day, the platform includes multitudes of videos, games, tools, streams, and more that allow for hours of entertainment, growth, and comfort. GameChanger provides a safe place for both patients and their families by allowed for an individualized tech experience. Users of the platform are able to have the utmost privacy, while ensuring direct connection to important information and content that they use in their day-to-day.

Check out the OCBJ’s interview with our founders Jim and Taylor Carol.
https://www.ocbj.com/news/2021/sep/06/gamechanger-helps-kids-during-treatment/

The post GameChanger Founders, GC Private Network featured in OCBJ Insider first appeared on GameChanger Charity.