Community-focused “Empathon” campaign generates $162,000 in direct support for global charity initiatives
LAS VEGAS – At a time when local communities are struggling, the team at PLAYSTUDIOS is mobilizing to support nonprofit programs and families in need. Together, groups of employees have raised $162,000 as part of the mobile gaming company’s Empathon initiative, with the funds going to 10 globally recognized charities, local nonprofits, and individual families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Empathon, which launched in June 2020, was created as a way to support others in times of uncertainty and anxiety. Drawing inspiration from Hackathons, PLAYSTUDIOS employees were challenged to identify causes they are passionate about or specific problems they could help solve through their actions, and then to determine the most impactful way to provide assistance. Employees were then encouraged to team-up and work together to pitch their cause and specific plan to PLAYSTUDIOS leadership. This collaborative approach enabled employees to address specific challenges realistically and to solve urgent problems immediately.
“Events like the Empathon give us the opportunity to make a real difference outside of work,” said Marinelle, Live Ops Engineering Manager, who helped identify the Havasupai Reservation as one of the beneficiary organizations. “It reminds us to be grateful for the things we have right now when we witness what so many others have not.
“It is up to us to act and it’s refreshing to work for a company that empowers its employees to contribute to society.”
Charities and programs benefiting from the Empathon include the nonprofit Toni’s House, Noah’s Animal House, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, Glennwood Housing Foundation, GRACE, and Raphael House of San Francisco. Additional support was given to an after-school mentorship program for Clark County students, Utah-based startup Red Sprite Hats, Arizona’s Havasupai Reservation, and a Hong Kong animal rescue program.
“Noah’s was beyond grateful to be included in PLAYSTUDIOS’ inaugural Empathon program,” said Staci Alonso, Founder of Noah’s Animal House. “We shared the desire to transform our private outdoor area to a park-like setting, so that our clients could enjoy a sense of normalcy while visiting with their pets.
“I wish the PLAYSTUDIOS team could see the joy in our clients’ eyes while watching their children and family pet play together in the sun.”
The $162,000 raised by PLAYSTUDIOS employees will fund everything from capital projects to much-needed PPE supplies.
“We saw a lot of company pride and connection throughout the whole process and I am hopeful that those who saw the passion of the presenters will be inspired to participate in our next Empathon,” said Tonya, VIP Host, who advocated for Toni’s House. “Being able to have an impact on a cause I believe in felt great. It was a wonderful source of company pride and gratitude for all of us.”
“Our team members not only greeted this challenge as an opportunity to do good in the communities we are a part of, but they saw it as an important first step in building a legacy of philanthropy within PLAYSTUDIOS,” says company Co-Founder and CEO Andrew Pascal. “This is an employee-owned program, one that will continue to evolve and diversify as we add new voices and new ideas to this ongoing charitable work.
“Allowing our employees to have a say in who and how we can help truly distinguishes the Empathon from any other initiative we could have launched.”
PLAYSTUDIOS will assess the outcomes of Empathon and look for opportunities to improve employee and community engagement, while targeting June 2021 for the next Empathon campaign.
About PLAYSTUDIOS
PLAYSTUDIOS is the developer and operator of award-winning free-to-play casual games for mobile and social platforms. Its collection of original and published titles is powered by the company’s groundbreaking playAWARDS loyalty marketing platform, which enables players to earn real-world rewards from a portfolio of global entertainment, retail, technology, travel, leisure, and gaming brands across 15 countries and four continents. Founded by a team of veteran hospitality, technology, and gaming entrepreneurs, PLAYSTUDIOS brings together beautifully designed mobile gaming content with an innovative loyalty platform in order to provide its players with an unequaled entertainment experience and its partners with actionable business insights. To learn more about PLAYSTUDIOS, visit playstudios.com.
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