Gaming Industry for Ukraine surpasses £250,000 fundraising target

| By Robert Fletcher
"Gaming Industry for Ukraine", a global gaming industry fundraiser that launched earlier this month to support people in Ukraine, has exceeded its initial £250,000 (€298,817/$328,226) target.

The amount raised currently stands at £251,425, with organisers calling for one last push through to the end of March to generate further funds for those impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Betsson Group remains the largest donator to date, having pledged £50,000 to the initiative, while other significant contributions came from Spribe OU, Oryx Gaming, Games Global, Microgaming, Funfair Games, Fast Track, FSB, Vixio, Enteractive, OLBG, SBC, Clarion Gaming, Just for the Win and Better Collective.

The campaign will provide funding to Choose Love, a registered charity that will target the donations to a range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the ground supporting purely humanitarian efforts.

Choose Love has so far granted aid to 23 organisations providing aid in and around Ukraine. Since the campaign began, it has committed $1.4m to humanitarian organisations, including money raised from the gaming industry campaign.

This included $175,000 going to the Caritas charity to help pay for fuel and trucks that are being used to support humanitarian projects in and around Ukraine.

In addition, $50,000 was also sent to the Humanitas charity to purchase medical supplies, while $30,000 went to Integra, a Slovakian NGO with a network of teams and partners in the area, for transport supplies.

A further $30,000 was used to provide legal support, evacuation assistance and accommodation to LGBT+ people in Ukraine.

“I’ve always been proud to be a member of the gaming community and never more so after seeing how they have got behind this campaign to send aid to Ukraine,” Gaming Industry for Ukraine co-organiser and head of strategic events at Better Collective, Shona O’Donnell, said.

“It’s been overwhelming to see the support from all sectors of the industry, both at a personal and company level.”

You can donate to the Gaming Industry for Ukraine fundraiser here

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