Tag Archives: charity

LARPing for Good with Cultura Connector and the GRIT Ukraine Program!

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Image courtesy of DrachenFest US.

If you’re not a roleplaying game fan, you might not be familiar with LARPing or Live-Action RolePlaying.

Essentially, it’s playing a tabletop storytelling game in a more interactive fashion. There is dressing up, combat, physically accomplishing tasks, and interacting with other players and NPCs (non-player characters that support the narrative).

And the organization Cultura Connector believes it can be used to help young people in Ukraine.

They are currently raising funds for their first GRIT Ukraine program, enabling Ukrainian facilitators to lead a 12-week LARP program with Ukrainian young people living in Poland to strengthen resilience, communication, emotional awareness, problem-solving, and connection with Ukrainian youths.

Here is part of the mission statement from their website:

Ukrainian families have been living within the immediate violence of war from Russia’s full scale invasion. They have had to leave behind homes, schools, and people they love. Even after reaching safety, the ground can still feel unsteady.

Parents are trying to build a life in a new country while carrying concern for the one they left. Children and teenagers are learning how to belong again while the adults around them are still trying to catch their breath after so much upheaval.

GRIT creates a structured space where young people can reconnect with others, practice making choices, and rediscover their capacity to shape what happens next.

GRIT stands for Games for Resilience and Interactive Transformation. It is a culturally grounded, trauma-informed program developed by Cultura Connector, a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Image courtesy of DrachenFest US.

It might sound silly, but LARPing can absolutely help someone find confidence in themselves and a community of likeminded people.

It happened to me in high school.

Making friends who brought me into their game taught me about storytelling, about trust, about letting go and enjoying myself and wholeheartedly embracing what I loved to do. LARPing was my gateway to the world of roleplaying games, a hobby and passion that has stuck with me for decades.

Please share the link and donate if you can. It would be so amazing to reach out to young people halfway around the world and show them the magic of storytelling while helping build them up.

You can also click here for more details on Cultura Connector and the GRIT program.

Thank you to Dan and the incredible hardworking crew at DrachenFest US for letting us know about this wonderful and worthwhile endeavor.

Happy LARPing, everyone.

Midis for Minnesota Charity Bundle!

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The news cycle may have moved on, but the brave people of Minnesota are still dealing with the effects of ICE’s policies, past and present.

A few months ago, puzzle and game companies united to create the No Ice in Minnesota charity bundle, which did a lot of good.

But the good fight continues, so the puzzly community has rallied once more in support of their friends, neighbors, and fellow human beings.

I’m happy to help spread the word about their latest charity endeavor…

Midis for Minnesota!

A collection of 13 midi-sized crosswords, Midis for Minnesota features a world-class lineup of Minnesotan constructors.

Across Minnesota, immigrant families impacted by ICE’s presence are struggling to afford groceries, rent, and other basic essentials. These families need urgent financial support.

Simply make a donation of any amount to one of the organizations listed (or any other organization that helps those affected by ICE’s presence), and contact the creators to receive your charity bundle.

Their goal is to raise $10,000 to support their community.

Please donate, or at the very least, share the link and help get the word out about this worthwhile cause.

The people of Minnesota have shown us the true heart of America, the power of speaking out, of organization, of standing up against the masked faces of violence, racism, and corruption, and these organizations deserve our support.

Thanks for reading today.

The “No ICE in Minnesota” Charity Bundle!

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Fuck ICE.

Hi! You might not have known my feelings, either morally or politically from reading this blog, so please allow me to get my stance out of the way bluntly and clearly.

Fuck ICE.

I’ve written about this corrupt administration’s policies in the past, discussing how they’ve affected the puzzle and game industry as it regards to tariffs, manufacturing, and so on.

And I’ve happily tried to help spread the word about puzzly efforts to organize against those and many other restrictive, harmful, and ignorant policies.

So I’m overjoyed to share another game-fueled charity effort for the betterment of this country…

The No ICE in Minnesota Charity Bundle.

Many puzzle and game companies have contributed to this bundle — featuring nearly 1500 games and downloads for tabletop games, video games, books, music, and more — and all they’re asking is a minimum donation of $10.

Their goal is to raise $100,000 for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, and they’ll be collecting until March 13th.

Here is the full statement on their itch.io link:

We created this bundle to raise funds for Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota in response to the Trump administration sending ICE agents to the Minneapolis area and the reckless murder of an innocent people by ICE agents. ILCM provides free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.

They also work to educate the community about immigration matters and advocates for public policies which respect the universal human rights of immigrants. ILCM provides services based on capacity and has a generally high demand for services. The more we are able to fundraise, the more people they will be able to assist.

Please donate, or at the very least, share the link and help get the word out about this worthwhile cause.

The people of Minnesota have shown us the true heart of America, the power of speaking out, of organization, of standing up against the masked faces of violence, racism, and corruption, and the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota deserves our support.

Thanks for reading today.

Oh, and one more time for the folks in the back, Fuck ICE.

The RPG and Board Game Community Reaches Out!

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One of the best parts of being a puzzle and board game guy is the amazing community of fellow players, puzzlers, and game designers that surrounds you. Yes, puzzles and games are a business, obviously, but every week I see examples of creators and companies giving back, doing charitable acts, and participating in fundraisers for good causes.

Today, I’d like to highlight a few and hopefully bring more attention to these worthwhile endeavors.

Accessible Games: Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Accessible Games understands that every person is different, and that there are many people who don’t feel represented in modern roleplaying games. To that end, they created Survival of the Able, an RPG with disabled protagonists set in medieval Europe during a zombie plague. It shows the challenges people face every day, but also shows that those people are capable of accomplishing extraordinary things. (They even published a special edition of the game that is designed to be more accessible for dyslexic players.)

Between Survival of the Able, their zine Accessible Gaming Quarterly, and their guide to more inclusive tabletop creation — Accessible Guide to RPG Layout — they’re doing a lot of advance the cause of gaming for everybody.

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (which is Thursday May 15th), they’re offering a 30% discount on their entire accessibility-focused library. You can get your discounted copies between May 15th and May 22nd at this link. Please consider participating.

Kids in the Attic: Hershey Family Recovery Bundle

Kids in the Attic is a roleplaying game company that likes to highlight the weird and whimsical in their fantasy, space, and horror games, but this week, they’re turning their attention to bringing light and kindness to a horrible situation.

They’re currently organizing the Hershey Family Recovery Bundle to support the family of Rick Hershey, a prolific artist in the tabletop roleplaying game community. All of his children were involved in a devastating car accident caused by another driver. Thankfully, they all survived, but the road ahead will be long, and everyone knows the burden that medical bills can impose.

You can click this link to see everything included in the Hershey Family Recovery Bundle and to learn more about Rick. Please consider donating to help Rick’s family get back on their feet.

Tycoon Games: The Box of Giving

Tycoon Games has been an industry leader in charitable work and outreach for years, donating to Toys for Tots, the Boys and Girls Club, and many other worthy organizations.

Their latest endeavor is The Box of Giving, a collection of games intended to help underserved communities, schools, libraries, gaming conventions, and local non-profits experience the joy and camaraderie that comes with playing games. For the cost of shipping alone, each organization receives $500 worth of games!

Please click this link to apply for the Box of Giving program and share the link for any groups that you think would benefit from this wonderful endeavor.

Are there any charitable efforts in the board game or roleplaying world that you’d like to shout-out? Let us know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.

Happy gaming, everyone!

A Puzzle Party for Reproductive Justice!

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There’s a long history of activism and advocacy through puzzles. Women of Letters, Grids for Good, Queer Qrosswords, These Puzzles Fund Abortion… these are just a few prominent examples of constructors and creators donating their time and puzzly efforts to benefit the world at large.

And the wonderful team at Frontera Fund are using puzzles to help raise awareness next Thursday, May 8th with their Puzzle Party event!

Cactus Valley Art in Harlingen, Texas, will be hosting the event.

There will be puzzles, community support, and discussions of the modern abortion access landscape and the challenges involved in ensuring that women and those assigned-female-at-birth have the support and resources they need.

This is a wonderful way to help get the word out. I hope that you’ll participate in the event, either by attending in person, by following through social media, or by donating to the cause!

I’d also like to take the opportunity to shout out These Puzzles Fund Abortion 5 . This year marks the fifth edition of the project, collecting 23 puzzles centered around social and reproductive justice themes, all for a minimum donation of $25.

If you donate $50 or more, you will also receive the puzzle packs for the previous four years of TPFA.

Whether you support Frontera Fund or the five important charities involved in These Puzzles Fund Abortion, I thank you for your time, your donations, and your participation in helping protect and provide healthcare for others.

Together, puzzlers can change the world.

Loads of Crossword Tournament Info! Boswords, Indie 500, and Lollapuzzoola!

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In the last week or so, crossword fans have been treated to a bevy of announcements regarding upcoming tournaments and events, and we’ve got all the details for you!

So let’s get started!

First off, Boswords is back for the summer!

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Sunday, July 25th, from 1 PM to 6 PM Eastern, puzzlers from all over will virtually gather for the fifth edition (and second edition online) of the Boswords Tournament, and registration opens today!

With two divisions to choose from — Individual and Pairs — puzzlers of all ages and experience levels will have the opportunity to test their puzzly wits.

Tournament organizers Andrew Kingsley and John Lieb have gathered a murderer’s row of talented constructors for this year’s puzzles. The five themed puzzles in regular competition (as well as the championship themeless final) will be constructed by Malaika Handa, Andrew Kingsley, Chandi Deitmer, Wyna Liu, Hoang-Kim Vu, Rob Gonsalves, and Jennifer Lim!

Boswords is asking for $25 for adults, $35 for pairs, and $5 for students to attend and compete (or as a discounted rate), which is a real bargain!

(And if you want to solve the puzzles but not compete, it’ll only cost you $10 for the puzzle packet, which you’ll receive Sunday night by email!)

You can visit the BosWords website for full details! And to check out our thoughts on last year’s tournament puzzles, click here!

The team behind the Indie 500 crossword tournament also reached out to solvers to announce that they’re releasing the puzzles intended for the 2020 edition of the tournament as a downloadable puzzle packet.

And they’re doing so as part of a charity fundraiser. All it takes is a $10 donation to one of the charities listed here, and you’ll receive some top-flight puzzles.

What a marvelous way to do some good AND keep the puzzly spirit of the Indie 500 tournament alive. (Click here for full details!)

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But that’s not all. The Lollapuzzoola team also posted updates regarding this year’s virtual edition of “the best tournament held in New York on a Saturday in August.” Saturday, August 21st, will be Lollapuzzoola 14!

The format is simple. Two divisions — Solo and Pairs — pit their puzzly minds against clever clues and crafty constructors.

There’s also the Next Day Division, where you’re outside of tournament contention but you get the puzzles the next day to solve on your own!

With five tournament puzzles plus the championship round (and bonus puzzles!) — designed with inimitable style, both fun and befuddling in how often they innovate classic crossword tropes — you’re guaranteed to get your money’s worth as you solve!

Click here to solve the announcement puzzle, and to check out the full details of this year’s event, click here! (And for the rundown of last year’s tournament puzzles, click here!)

Will you be virtually attending Boswords or Lollapuzzoola, or contributing to the Indie 500 charity promotion, fellow puzzlers and PuzzleNationers? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you!

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Have you checked out our special summer deals yet? You can find them on the Home Screen for Daily POP Crosswords and Daily POP Word Search! Check them out!

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