This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraising initiative, a two‑day event dubbed "Save Point." Scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026, the campaign blends live streaming, interactive play, and charitable giving to rally support for children in need during the festive period. Fiona Baxter, the senior fundraising manager at Save the Children, told GamesIndustry.biz that the concept for Save Point emerged from a broader ambition to deepen the charity’s relationship with the gaming community.
"We wanted a way to connect with gamers and streamers that felt natural for them, not just a one‑off donation appeal," Baxter explained. "By creating an event that sits comfortably within the gaming ecosystem, we can reach a much wider audience and invite people to support our cause in a format that fits their daily lives." According to Baxter, the traditional model of fundraising—marathons, galas, or bake sales—can exclude large segments of the population who may lack the time, physical ability, or interest to participate. "Not everyone can run a marathon or attend a formal dinner," she noted.
"A gaming fundraiser is far more accessible. All you need is a console or a PC, an internet connection, and the willingness to spend a few hours having fun while raising money for a vital cause." The charity has partnered with popular online creator and Twitch streamer TheKapFantastic, known for his energetic personality and a proven track record of charitable fundraising. Earlier this year, TheKapFantastic raised over £5,000 for Save the Children through a series of livestream challenges.
For Save Point, he will host a marathon of gameplay, community challenges, and interactive donation milestones, encouraging his followers to contribute in real time. Baxter emphasized that the partnership with TheKapFantastic is just the beginning of a longer‑term strategy to embed Save the Children within the gaming culture. "We hope that after the event we’ll have forged lasting relationships with both content creators and their audiences," she said.
"If we can turn a single livestream into a sustained community of gamers who regularly champion our work, that would be a massive win for the charity." The charity also hopes to gather valuable insights from the event to refine future gaming‑focused fundraisers. "Because this is our first foray into a gaming‑centric campaign, the feedback we collect—about what works, what doesn’t, and how we can improve the donor experience—will be essential," Baxter said.
"We’re looking at this as a learning laboratory that will inform bigger, more ambitious gaming events in the years to come." In her remarks, Baxter described gamers and streamers as "the unsung heroes of fundraising," highlighting how the gaming world is beginning to set a "new, innovative standard" for charitable engagement. She pointed out that gamers share a love for storytelling, imagination, and immersive experiences, which can be harnessed for social good.
"When we translate that passion for virtual worlds into tangible, real‑world impact, we demonstrate the extraordinary power of the gaming community," she said. Save Point is a component of the broader "The One Delivery That Matters" campaign, which launches in November 2026.
The campaign seeks to shift the narrative of the holiday season from consumerist gifting to essential deliveries for vulnerable children. While many children anticipate toys and sweets, millions are instead awaiting life‑saving provisions such as nutritious food, medical supplies, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter illustrated the contrast with a vivid metaphor: "Imagine you can order anything at the tap of a screen and have it appear at your door.
For most of us that’s a convenience, but for children in crisis this Christmas, the 'delivery' they need is not a gadget or a game—it’s the basic items that keep them alive and healthy." To join Save Point, participants can register their interest through the event’s online portal. Once signed up, they will receive detailed instructions on how to set up a fundraising livestream, including technical guidelines, suggested donation tiers, and tips for engaging an audience. The platform will also provide promotional assets, such as custom overlays, donation alerts, and pre‑made video clips that participants can incorporate into their streams.
In addition to individual streamers, the charity is encouraging gaming clans, esports teams, and online communities to collaborate on collective fundraising goals. By aggregating donations across multiple channels, the event aims to create a sense of friendly competition, with leaderboards highlighting the top‑raising groups and offering virtual badges or exclusive in‑game items as rewards. Beyond the immediate financial impact, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about the broader mission of Save the Children. Throughout the livestreams, the organization will share stories of children who have benefited from its programs, illustrate how donations are allocated, and provide a transparent view of the supply‑chain that delivers food, medicine, and shelter to those in need.
The charity hopes that the exposure will inspire a lasting shift in how gamers view philanthropy. "If we can embed the idea that playing a game can also be an act of kindness, we’re planting a seed for a more compassionate gaming culture," Baxter concluded.
"Success for us isn’t just the amount of money raised on those two days; it’s the community we build, the awareness we generate, and the enduring commitment to keep using games as a force for good."