Gamers take to the tabletop for children’s health during Extra Life’s Tabletop Weekend
Over the weekend of April 11-13, Extra Life gamers took to the tabletop to raise money for their local children’s hospitals. Tabletop Weekend unites all gamers to play board games, collectible card games, Tabletop RPGs, and more to raise funds in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Gator Gaming – the largest student-led video game organization at the University of Florida – didn’t want to miss out on the fun and celebrated the weekend by hosting a livestream of their gaming efforts to raise funds and awareness for charitable support of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. In 2025, they’ve raised more than $2,000 so far!
Some participants got ahead of the weekend, starting their fundraising and gaming efforts even earlier! BADAS Society – a student group representing the University of Florida BA in Digital Arts and Sciences Society – played games and held a live stream event in March, raising $2,567 for UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in 24 hours, placing them among the Top 40 Extra Life teams in the United States.
Our partners with the Student Life Center Game Committee at Florida State University also joined in on the fun as well hosting “The Great Garnet and Gold Gaming Give.” On April 5, this 12-hour event featured gaming events including a smash bros tournament, LAN parties, tabletop games, Magic the Gathering, Friendlocke, and more. Through their tournaments, online donations and silent auction, these students raised more than $3,300 to help change kids’ health.
Extra Life is a program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals that unites gamers from across the globe to play games to change kids’ health to change the future. Extra Life is also a global digital community that engages passion-fueled fundraisers within the gaming and live-streaming interest groups and industries.
Our 170 member hospitals in the U.S. and Canada rely on donations to provide the best care for kids. Since 2008, thousands of Extra Lifers have raised over $100 million to fund critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, along with innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, and child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays.
So what are you waiting for? Sign up and dedicate a day of play for kids in your community! Learn more and register at extra‐life.org.