DreamHack Atlanta Gives Back to Host City through ‘Dream BIG’ Charity Initiative
Metro Atlanta Charity Activations Highlighted with “Toys for Tots” Campaign, and Ticket Donation Program for Title 1 Schools and Student Programs
- ESL FACEIT Group reintroduces Dream BIG for DreamHack Atlanta and future North American festivals.
- DreamHack Atlanta collaborates with Toys for Tots to help children celebrate the holiday season with toy donations.
- DreamHack donates more than $530K in tickets to Metro Atlanta students, including 2,200 tickets to Title 1 schools.
- Multiple non-profit organizations join DreamHack Atlanta’s Charity Corner, where they will connect with and educate festival guests.
ATLANTA, GA — November 14, 2023 — DreamHack, an international gaming lifestyle festival and ESL FACEIT Group brand, is giving back to the community in the weeks leading up to DreamHack Atlanta in December. Highlighted by the return of Dream BIG, the brand’s tentpole charity initiative, DreamHack will partner with Toys for Tots to level up toy donations with a concerted effort toward contributions for foster children throughout Metro Atlanta. As one of the largest campaigns in the nations, Atlanta Toys for Tots distributes toys to 18 different counties in Georgia. During the 2022 campaign, a total of 988,760 toys were collected and helped 494,380 children.
Additionally, the Festival is donating more than $530,000 in free tickets to Title I public school students and their families across Metro Atlanta to experience DreamHack in person. These initiatives and partnerships represent a continued effort by DreamHack and its parent company, ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), to give back to its longtime North American partner cities.
The gaming lifestyle festival will converge on Atlanta for the fifth time the weekend of December 15-17, 2023, at the Georgia World Congress Center.
“DreamHack festivals are more than a celebration of local gaming communities; they’re also a chance to give back,” said Guy Blomberg, Event Director DreamHack Festivals, Americas. “We want to channel the power of gaming for good, and the return of Dream BIG is sharing that with Atlanta, one of our most supportive host cities.”
CHARITY PARTNERSHIPS
DreamHack x Toys for Tots
To help families celebrate the holidays, DreamHack Atlanta will partner with Toys for Tots to level up toy donations this holiday season. In addition to traditional Toys for Tots drop-off locations, there will be DreamHack x Toys for Tots donation bins at the festival and at partnered businesses and organizations throughout Metro Atlanta. The Festival will also host local foster children alongside 175 Toys for Tots-affiliated Marines and their families for a special toy distribution.
Throughout the weekend, celebrity guests and content creators at DreamHack Atlanta will further support the campaign by encouraging guests to donate toys.
- To become a Toy Drop Site, please see details HERE.
- The current list of Toy Drop Site locations is HERE.
- To volunteer at the toy sorting sites, please sign up HERE.
DreamHack x Title I Schools To Distribute Free Tickets to Students and Families
DreamHack will donate more than $530,000 in free tickets to Title I schools for students and their families. In total, that equals 3,000 free tickets to local students, which can be redeemed for three-day individual passes or family passes. Of those, 2,200 of the tickets are for Title I school students, including 400 tickets distributed in collaboration with Atlanta-based Next Gen. Next Gen creates an ecosystem of local colleges, companies and mentors that expose students to diverse career fields and builds the social capital necessary to succeed after graduation. The remaining 800 tickets will be distributed to high school and college students attending SIEGE, an Atlanta-based game development conference and college fair taking place on-site at DreamHack Atlanta.
DreamHack Atlanta Charity Corner
DreamHack Atlanta will welcome several charitable organizations to the festival’s Charity Corner, where guests can learn more about resources and initiatives in the gaming community and beyond. Participating organizations include VGC USA, Two Write Love On Her Arms, AbleGamers, and more. The Charity Corner will also play host to three creator-run charity tournaments where streamers will go head-to-head to raise money and awareness for participating organizations. Festival attendees can also participate in giveaways throughout the weekend, or watch creators host fundraiser livestreams live from the festival floor.
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General Admission tickets for DreamHack Atlanta start at $29 for a single day, and $89 for three-day access. More information available at dreamhack.com/atlanta/tickets/.
More information on the charity collaborations is available at dreamhack.com/atlanta/dreambig.
About ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.
About DreamHack
DreamHack creates a world where the gaming community comes to life. The festivals, featuring everything gaming under one roof, create an arena where you can come to connect, explore, win, play a part, and be yourself through a gaming lifestyle experience. Attendees meet their favorite creators, experience professional esports tournaments, amateur and varsity gaming tournaments, world-famous bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) LAN party, cosplay championships, panels, art, activities, expo, screenings, live music, and more. DreamHack is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading competitive games and esports company.
About Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots was started in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Henricks in Los Angeles CA. Major Hendricks and the Marines in LA collected and distributed 5,000 toys that year. After seeing the success of Major Hendricks, the program was adopted by the Marine Corps. All reserve units were directed to implement local campaigns in 1948. The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
About Next GEN
Since 2014, Next Gen has built bridges for students who have been traditionally overlooked to prepare them for success after graduation. Through exposure to college and career options and consistent support from mentors, Next Gen opens doors and makes connections to help students discover their full potential. Next Gen’s unique model has created an ecosystem of support for over 1,100 high school students at Carver STEAM Academy, South Atlanta High School, Therrell High School Banneker High School, Washington High School and Maynard Jackson High School. Learn more at nextgenatl.org.