This holiday season, Save the Children is set to roll out its very first gaming‑focused fundraiser, a two‑day live‑streaming marathon titled Save Point. The initiative, scheduled for December 5‑6, 2026, is designed to bring together gamers, content creators, and supporters from across the digital landscape in a single, high‑energy event that blends entertainment with philanthropy. Fiona Baxter, the organization’s senior fundraising manager, 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 that felt natural and inclusive,” Baxter explained.
“Not everyone can commit to a marathon or a long‑distance run, but a gaming marathon is something many people can join, whether they’re streaming, donating, or simply watching and cheering on their favorite creators.” The event will feature a partnership with popular online personality TheKapFantastic, a streamer who previously raised more than £5,000 for Save the Children earlier in the year. By leveraging TheKapFantastic’s existing audience, the charity hopes to attract a diverse group of participants—ranging from casual players to hardcore e‑sports fans—who can each contribute in their own way.
Baxter emphasized that the goal is not just a one‑off donation spike, but the cultivation of lasting relationships with gamers and streamers. “If we can walk away with a new crew of supporters who are excited to game for us again, that would be a massive win,” she said. Beyond the immediate fundraising potential, Baxter highlighted the educational value of the venture. Save Point marks the charity’s first foray into a gaming‑centric fundraiser, and the team anticipates a steep learning curve.
“The feedback we gather will be priceless,” she noted. “It will help us refine the format, improve the technical setup, and ultimately scale up to even bigger, more impactful gaming events in the years to come.” In Baxter’s view, gamers and streamers are the “unsung heroes of fundraising,” a sentiment that reflects a growing recognition of the gaming sector’s capacity to drive social change. She described the space as “setting a new, innovative standard” for charitable support, pointing out that the community shares a love of storytelling, imagination, and immersive experiences.
“When we channel that passion into real‑world impact, we demonstrate just how powerful the gaming community can be,” she said. Save Point is a central component of Save the Children’s broader campaign, “The One Delivery That Matters,” which launches in November 2026.
The campaign aims to shift public attention from traditional holiday gifts to the essential supplies that many children desperately need during the winter months—food, medicine, warm clothing, and safe shelter. Baxter underscored the urgency of the message: “Anything you can order with a tap of a screen can be delivered to a doorstep, but for millions of children this Christmas, it’s not toys they’re waiting for—it’s life‑saving deliveries.” The structure of Save Point will be straightforward yet flexible.
Participants can sign up through a dedicated registration page, where they will receive guidance on setting up a fundraising livestream, choosing donation targets, and promoting their streams across social media platforms. The charity will provide branding assets, donation links, and real‑time progress trackers to help streamers keep their audiences engaged and informed. To maximize reach, Save the Children plans to collaborate with multiple influencers across different gaming genres—ranging from battle‑royale and role‑playing games to indie titles and speed‑running communities.
This multi‑genre approach ensures that the event appeals to a broad spectrum of viewers, each of whom may be motivated to donate in different ways. For example, a speed‑runner might challenge themselves to complete a game within a set time frame for every £100 raised, while a sandbox‑game streamer could build a virtual representation of a child’s safe house, with each donation adding new rooms or amenities.
In addition to live donations, the charity will feature interactive elements such as viewer polls, Q&A sessions with field workers, and virtual tours of projects funded by the campaign. These components aim to deepen donors’ understanding of how their contributions translate into tangible outcomes on the ground, reinforcing the link between the virtual world of gaming and the real‑world needs of vulnerable children. The event’s timing—early December—coincides with the period when many families begin their holiday shopping, making it an opportune moment to encourage charitable giving.
By positioning the fundraiser as an alternative way to celebrate the season, Save the Children hopes to capture the generosity of gamers who might otherwise spend money on personal entertainment. Looking ahead, Baxter expressed optimism about the long‑term potential of gaming as a fundraising channel. “We see this as the beginning of an ongoing partnership with the gaming community,” she said.
“If we can demonstrate that a two‑day stream can make a measurable difference, we’ll have a solid foundation to build larger, more ambitious events—perhaps even international tournaments or collaborative charity bundles with game developers.” In summary, Save Point represents a strategic blend of modern digital culture and humanitarian aid. By tapping into the enthusiasm, creativity, and connectivity of gamers worldwide, Save the Children aims to deliver essential supplies to children in need while also forging a new, sustainable pathway for charitable engagement.
Those interested in joining the cause can register their interest through the official Save Point page, where they will receive all the necessary information to launch their own fundraising livestream and become part of this pioneering effort.