This holiday season, Save the Children is set to debut its very first gaming‑centric and livestream‑driven fundraiser, an event titled Save Point. The initiative is designed to tap into the enthusiasm of gamers and online creators, offering a novel way for supporters to contribute to the organization’s mission. Fiona Baxter, the charity’s senior fundraising manager, shared with GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s connection with the gaming community. “We wanted to create something that resonated with gamers on both a partnership level and an individual supporter level,” Baxter explained.
“Not everyone can sign up for a marathon or a long‑distance bike ride, but a gaming marathon is far more inclusive. It allows us to showcase the impact that a different kind of supporter can have.” To bring the event to life, Save the Children has teamed up with popular online content creator and streamer TheKapFantastic, who earlier this year raised over £5,000 for the charity through his own channel. Baxter emphasized that the partnership is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to cultivate relationships with gamers, streamers, and the wider digital audience.
“It would be amazing to reach even more people within this community and share the story of what we do and why it matters,” she said. “I’ll consider the event a massive success if, after the two‑day marathon, we walk away with a fresh crew of supporters who are eager to game for us again because of the experience they’ve had.” Baxter also highlighted the learning curve associated with this pioneering format. “Because this is our first foray into a gaming‑based fundraiser, the feedback we receive will be priceless.
It will help us refine the model and scale up even bigger, more ambitious gaming events in the years to come.” In her view, gamers and streamers are often the "unsung heroes of fundraising," and she believes the gaming world is "setting a new, innovative standard" for charitable giving. She elaborated on the cultural synergy between gaming and philanthropy: "Gamers are storytellers at heart.
We love immersive narratives, imaginative worlds, and the sense of escape that games provide. When we channel that passion into real‑world impact, we demonstrate just how powerful the gaming community can be in driving lasting change." Save Point is a key component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, "The One Delivery That Matters," slated to launch in November 2026. The campaign seeks to shift the focus of the holiday season from material gifts to essential supplies that children in crisis desperately need—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter.
Baxter underscored this shift, noting, "Anything you can order with a click can be delivered to your door, but for millions of children this Christmas, it isn’t toys they’re waiting for—it’s life‑saving deliveries that protect their childhoods." The event will run over two consecutive days, from December 5 to December 6, 2026. Participants can sign up by registering their interest through the provided link, which will also supply guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream. Once registered, gamers can choose to host their own streams, rally friends and followers, and encourage donations that go directly to Save the Children’s emergency response efforts. The format of Save Point mirrors the growing trend of “charity gaming marathons,” where streamers play continuously for extended periods while viewers donate in real time.
Such events have proven effective at generating substantial funds, largely because they combine entertainment with a clear, actionable call to action. By leveraging platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming, Save Point aims to reach a global audience, transcending geographic boundaries and tapping into a diverse donor base.
Beyond the immediate fundraising goal, the charity hopes to cultivate a lasting community of gaming advocates. Baxter envisions a future where gamers regularly partner with Save the Children on campaigns, creating a pipeline of ongoing support that extends far beyond a single event.
"We want to embed ourselves in the gaming ecosystem so that whenever a new game launches or a major tournament occurs, there’s an opportunity for us to collaborate and raise awareness for children in need," she said. The charity also plans to use the data and insights gathered during Save Point to refine its outreach strategies.
Metrics such as viewer engagement, donation spikes, and participant demographics will inform future initiatives, ensuring that each subsequent gaming fundraiser is more effective and inclusive than the last. In summary, Save Point represents a bold experiment in merging the worlds of gaming and philanthropy. By offering an accessible, entertaining, and purpose‑driven experience, Save the Children hopes to attract a new generation of supporters—gamers who are eager to turn their love of play into tangible, life‑changing outcomes for vulnerable children worldwide.
The event promises not only to raise critical funds during the holiday season but also to lay the groundwork for a sustainable, game‑powered fundraising model that could reshape charitable giving for years to come.