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BillTheConquerer Takes Over Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
BillTheConquerer Takes Over Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
While Bill (AKA BillTheConquerer) is not new to the gaming world, he is however new to the world of Twitch. Bill has been streaming on Twitch for about 2 months now, and after only 4 days of streaming he was able to hit affiliate status. Which for those of you who are not as familiar with streaming, affiliate is a program within Twitch that helps streamers to get paid for their work. Bill has worked on 4 different startups in the gaming industry helping people make a career out of doing what they love. Using the skills he learned, he is able to help people better market their streams and turn it into a business that can actually turn them a profit they can support themselves off of.A Long Time Gamer
Bill has been playing video games for years, but he does not consider himself a competitive gamer. He plays mostly for the joy of gaming. Bill says, people do not come to his stream to watch his skills, while he is a good gamer folks often come to socialize with him and ask him various questions about his stream or how to better their own stream. When asked what he enjoys most about streaming Bill says, he really enjoys the social aspect of streaming, and he appreciates the raw honesty of it all. The internet is a place where almost everything is either censored or filtered. It is nice to have a space where people can express emotion and interact with people in real time in a way that is unfiltered and unscripted. This kind of environment really allows you to see who people really are and how they react to situations that may arise.An Effort to Support Dreamscape
This Saturday Bill has graciously offered to partner with us for another charity stream! Bill is looking forward to the charity stream partnership with Dreamscape as it’s a chance to give back to the community that has given him so much. He feels he has been very blessed in his life, and streaming has been such a great opportunity for him, so why not use it to give back! What better way to do so than to raise funds to give a disabled man the tools he needs to regain his independence and freedom. But Bill and the Dreamscape Foundation put their heads together to come up with a way to give back to Bill’s community! All donors will receive a number of thank you prizes and be entered into our raffle drawing for Amazon Gift Cards! Based on a donation tier, the prizes are as follows: (please note all prizes ship US only)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Aurora World Cat Plush Figures
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Aurora World Cat Plush Figures
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Aurora World Cat Plush Figures
- 1 Mystery FunkoPOP!
- 1 Faux Fur Weighted Blanket
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
HiveQueen Takes the Throne in Dreamscape Foundation’s Next Charity Stream
HiveQueen Takes the Throne in Dreamscape Foundation’s Next Charity Stream
For Robin (HiveQueen) streaming isn’t just a hobby or a way to pass the time. It became a way to cope and adjust to a new environment. 3 years ago Robin moved from her home in west Canada to South Korea with her husband in search of new opportunities. After finding herself struggling to make friends in her new home, her husband suggested she try streaming. Robin has always enjoyed playing video games, so it seemed like a great way to meet new people with common interests while also doing something she enjoys.The Hard Working Bee
Robin has now been streaming in her spare time for the last 3 years. When Robin is not streaming, she is working at her full-time job as a teacher, or enjoying some quality “me” time. When asked what she enjoys most about streaming, Robin says that over the years her favorite part about streaming has always been getting to meet new people and build relationships with them. Twitch is all about coming together with people from all walks of life to share in their common interests, whether that be gaming or whatever you choose to stream about. Another really great thing about streaming Robin says, is the ability to help and give back.Over the years, my favorite part about streaming has always been getting to meet new people and build relationships with them.Growing up she loved to get involved with charity events in her community, but as she got older she found it increasingly more difficult to find the time to give back. Once she learned about charity streams as a way to give back, she was more than excited to take this opportunity to help. By using the connections, she has made over the years within the streaming community, she has been able to do multiple charity streams and raise not only money but also awareness for some very important causes. One thing that she wants people to know when they are watching her charity streams is that, even if you can’t afford to contribute financially, Robin makes sure everyone knows that their presence is support enough! Just by spreading the word and showing support in any way you can, you are making a difference.
Dreamscape and HiveQueen_
On Saturday February 29th beginning at 2pm (EST) Robin will be partnering with The Dreamscape Foundation to help raise funds and awareness to help get multiple visually impaired people the assistive technology they need to take back their lives! A quick message that she has for those within the disabled community… “you are not forgotten, there are so many people who will be coming together for this event and for them! If you are feeling alone or just horrible about something you have gone through, remember you are loved and cared for. You are not alone and there are people who have your back!” With giving back in mind, Robin and the Dreamscape Team put their heads together to come up with amazing prizes and giveaways as a way to say thank you to all those who donate and support the event. Based on a tier donation system, your donations will award you a number of different gifts you are sure to love! Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself:
(please note, all prizes ship US only)- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Fornite 7” Llama Loot Plush
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Fornite 7” Llama Loot Plush
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Fornite 7” Llama Loot Plush
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 World of Warcraft Official Cookbook
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
New Year, New Charity Stream with FearTheSticks
New Year, New Charity Stream with FearTheSticks
With the New Year upon us, it’s important to reflect back on another year gone. The goals you’ve accomplished, the changes you’ve made and much more. But more important is looking forward to new opportunities and starting off the year right! In order to do just that, the Dreamscape Foundation is teaming up with FearTheSticks (AKA Jacob), for another charity stream event! Ready for another chance to make a difference for someone in need, FearTheSticks kicks off 2020 on Saturday January 4th with a 12+ hour charity stream event!From Saving Lives to Improving Lives
Jacob, former US Navy, now out of the sub and onto Twitch as a fulltime streamer, has lived a life devoted to others. Having risked his life to serve and protect his country and fellow Americans, he still has a strong drive to help those he can. That is why FearTheSticks has teamed up with the Dreamscape Foundation to help raise funds to provide needed accessible technology to a young visually impaired man. Getting ready for his first ever charity stream, FearTheSticks is grateful for the opportunity and is excited to see how it unfolds. Sticking to his basics, he will primarily be playing League of Legends with his favorite character Fiddlesticks. All are welcome to tune in and even join in on some of the rounds! Now this isn’t just any old stream. FearTheSticks is pulling out all the stops. To help make the event special for his community, Jacob will have a few surprises in store for his community.Let’s Get the Details
From prizes and raffles, to a possible surprise League of Legends themed attire, Jacob is pulling out all the stops to step things up a notch! Beginning at 9am this Saturday January 4th, Jacob will be getting the party started! Going straight through to 9pm, gives you plenty of time to check things out and win some prizes! With a fully packed prize tier, FearTheSticks is happy to be offering the following giveaways and raffles to his community:(Please note, all prizes ship US only)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 League of Legends Riot Points Card
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 League of Legends Riot Points Card
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 League of Legends Riot Points Card
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 League of Legends Realms of Runeterra Book
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
There’s a Tidal Wave Incoming for Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
There’s a Tidal Wave Incoming for Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
Get ready to be swept out to sea when team Tidal Esports takes over Dreamscape Foundation’s next charity stream. Coming in strong to end our Season of Giving events, this Saturday beginning at 1pm (EST), team Tidal will be kicking off their 12+ hour charity stream. Itching to get things started, the 3 members will be working to raise funds to support Dreamscape’s adopted families. With a variety of games, prizes and different streamers taking over, this is one event you don’t want to miss…Especially with the surprise grand prize they have in store for 3 lucky winners! But before we get into that, let’s meet the team.Abide the Tide
Not just your typical gamers Tyger, Gidjete, Basic Tyez and the rest of their team take things to a whole new level. Brought together by shared passions for gaming and competition the Tidal Esports organization competes in a variety of games and tournaments. Ranging from Overwatch and Call of Duty, to games like Apex, Smash and Gears they do it all! With Saturday’s event in their sights, the team is excited to be able to use Twitch and gaming to help give back to people in need. Adding to the hype, they know their community will have a blast with the lineup of games and activities they have planned. Letting viewers vote on themes and in game players, they will be having a little fun with Minecraft speed runs and creative build offs, various matches and mini games from Call of Duty: MW, Overwatch and some classic mini games like Monopoly and Uno! Whether you plan on donating or just enjoying the stream, all are welcome to tune in and check it out.The Need to Know
Not 8…Not 10… but 12 full hours of nonstop streaming will be going down this Saturday December 21st from 1pm-1am (EST). Aside from the games above, team Tidal has a lot more in store. All donors will be rewarded with an assortment of prizes and gear, with the addition of a lucky few walking away with Tidal’s surprise GRAND PRIZE. Teaming up with their sponsor’s Tzar Apparel, the group created limited edition Tidal Esports – Dreamscape charity stream gaming jerseys which they will be raffling off to 3 lucky viewers! Also up for grabs are 2 Amazon gift cards valued at $50 and $100. But for the complete prize chart, please see the donation tier breakdown below: (Please note all prizes ship US only)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Pair of Creeper Gamer Glasses
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Pair of Creeper Gamer Glasses
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Pair of Creeper Gamer Glasses
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 Genji Styled Hooded Sweatshirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on the Dreamscape Foundation Blog Page
It’s Party Time with BalenaProductions’ 5th Annual Charity Stream
It’s Party Time with BalenaProductions’ 5th Annual Charity Stream
BalenaProductions is back and ready for their 5th annual Dreamscape Foundation charity stream event! After crushing last year’s goal, Steve (Balena), Ron (Rigg3l), and Ted (ApocHedgie) are ready to make an even bigger impact this time around. Starting at 8pm (EST) on Sunday December 15th the team will be raising money for Toys for Tots and Friends of Foster Children Forever. With a whole lot planned, plus prizes and giveaways, it’s sure to be an all-out party….Mario Party that is!Let’s Meet the Team
All long time gamers and friends, Steve, Ron, and Ted all got started on Twitch streaming their playthroughs of games. But what keeps them there today is all the possibilities a stream holds. Steve (Balena) being a natural foodie at heart, loves chatting with his viewers and having deep, heart felt conversation about food. While Ron (Rigg3l) on the other hand tends to go a little past just chatting in his streams. When asked about his favorite stream activities he had this to say, “Either playing competitive games or just playing rage inducing games and yelling about them”. Definitely on the competitive side, Ron keeps his things interesting but it’s always in good fun. Ted (ApocHedgie) is a multiplayer kind of guy. Whether it’s hosting a server for a bunch of friends or just playing in a big group, Ted loves the social aspect of gaming. Aside from playing big group games, Ted also lets his viewers who donate choose his next game. Which isn’t always a good thing for him! “I love when people donate to make me play whatever game they want, most of the time they make me play horrible things that shouldn’t even exist, but sometimes you get a nice guy who just wants you to play something good for once”, said Ted. Lucky for Ted, during the stream the guys will be playing Mario Party on Gamecube. Playing as DK (Steve), Wario (Ron), and Waluigi (Ted) to battle it out for that first place win, things are bound to get heated!How the Gang Got Together
Steve and Ron first met way back in the 4th grade and have been friends ever since. Together they started their own Youtube channel (BalenaProductions) and began making videos. Using animations and voiceovers of their favorite characters, primarily Sonic the Hedgehog, they created dozens of short clips for fun. As their channel grew and grew, they knew they needed to step up their content. Steve set out trying to find some new animations and mods, and in 2012 met Ted. As Ted put it, “he had some high quality standards for videos”, but once Steve saw what he could do, they began working together on some videos. While working on the videos, they started becoming friends more than colleagues. Eventually, Steve introduced Ted to Ron and the rest of their friends. At that time, Steve and Ron had switched from making episodes of their popular Youtube show Pixel Brains and began streaming them live on Twitch. According to Ted, “when they started doing PixelBrains streams instead of episodes, I was occasionally invited (more and more) to co-host with them”. They had a blast streaming together, and “since then Ted has been a very regular guest on Pixel Brains” said Ron. Fast forward 7 plus years later and the group is still going strong!Every Little Bit Helps
We all know there are people out there who are not as fortunate as some of us. The right thing to do is help out when you can to give them hope and a chance at changing things for the better. This is just another thought these friends have in common. Over the years, Steve has partnered with the Dreamscape Foundation and other nonprofits time and time again. This year, in the 5th annual Dreamscape stream he is looking forward to lending a helping hand while having a ton of fun. As a charity stream veteran, he had a message for other streamers thinking of giving it a shot, saying “Every little bit helps”! This simple sentence has some powerful meaning. Too many times streamers are afraid their stream won’t raise enough to matter. But it isn’t all about the amount raised! Spreading the word and educating people on the cause you’re supporting is enough in itself. Alongside Steve in past Dreamscape charity streams, Ron is a big supporter of volunteering as well. While most of his work has been in support of the Dreamscape Foundation, he has also gone outside the realm of e-based volunteering. When he was still in school, Ron had the opportunity to take part in helping out his local community. He and a group worked to help clean up trash and litter in parks around their area. Now ready for the next charity stream Ron had some final words to share, “Never stop believing in yourself. Each day brings new challenges, try your best to overcome them and never be afraid to ask for help along the way”! Despite what life throws at you, there is always hope and a way to overcome the obstacles. Similarly to his partners, Ted has been a constant supporter and volunteer for the Dreamscape Foundation charity streams. But before they began streaming, he still did his fair share to give back. He knows how important local organizations and their programs are to the communities they serve. Their only purpose is to help those who need it, but without outside support they won’t get much accomplished. That’s why Ted has volunteered multiple times to help local charities with anything he could. From shipping and receiving, to freshness tracking of food items, he was up for anything they needed him to do. Going into this year’s charity stream, he is looking forward to not only helping those in need, but being a role model to other streamers looking to do the same. It’s not hard to do, “just get out there and do it! Find a charity you like, advertise as best you can and try to raise some money and awareness for your favorite charity! Every bit counts, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t raise a million bucks”!The 5th Annual Dreamscape Charity Stream
Keeping the tradition alive for the 5th consecutive year, Balena Productions is back at it again! Coming together to support the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and Friends of Foster Children Forever, they are looking to demolish last year’s results. Prizes, giveaways, and great games are on deck for this event with an epic Mario Party battle being the forefront. The smack talking has already begun with Ted feeling real confident in his Waluigi skills and getting Ron as flustered as possible after each win! Will Ron make Ted eat those words? Or will Steve, keeping quiet, come out and surprise them both. To find out and see all the other fun ideas they have planned, make sure you tune in this Sunday December 15th beginning at 8pm! (Click here to visit our Tiltify.com page) But having fun and playing games isn’t all! All those who donate will receive a thank you gift and raffle entries for a chance to win 1 of 2 Grand Prizes. Please see below for the giveaway breakdown: (please note, all prizes ship US only)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 $10 Nintendo eShop Gift Card
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 Nintendo Switch Joy-Con 4 in 1 Charging Station
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 20 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
The Force Is Strong With Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
The Force Is Strong With Dreamscape’s Next Charity Stream
Sleppyy Blog Image
How a Shy Teen became an Inspiration to Thousands
For as long as she could remember, Sleppyy has always wanted to be a streamer. When she was younger, she loved watching videos and following her favorite Twitch channels. But she was still too nervous to try it herself. That is until two short years ago when she and a group of friends decided to give it a shot together! After that, she kept doing it occasionally and recently, with the help of a friend, found the motivation to pick it up regularly. She used the drive she felt from being productive when giving her all to streaming, to break through that shy barrier that kept her back. Now, what drives her is the community she has developed. The positive vibe they all share is fantastic to her, and to be able to have a place she can do the things she loves and have people enjoy it just as much as her! Today, her channel has skyrocketed and continues to grow. With over 10,000 followers, Sleppyy is excited to host a charity event and sharing her passion for volunteering with her community.A Young Girl with a Passion for Giving
Sleppyy has a long history of volunteering for charity. Throughout her life, she was influenced by her family, who knew the importance of giving back to help those less fortunate. She was raised to be thankful for everything she had and knew it should not get taken for granted. As she got older, she began volunteering on her own for various causes. In fact, for over a year, she made it a point to volunteer at least once a month! Only being 18 years old, it became clear to us she was well beyond her years. Most recently, she volunteered with an organization helping disabled individuals have the chance to take part in activities they once loved or never thought they’d be able to. She and a group of teens around her age, helped several people spend the day surfing! Balancing the boards, guiding, and helping them through the water, they gave these people the chance to feel free and capable. She explained, “Seeing how happy they were made it worth it.” For Sleppyy, having the opportunity to see things from their perspective and how much they loved it was more than enough reason to be there. She has also volunteered for the Pyjama Foundation, an organization helping foster children throughout Australia. She helped run their Christmas party and passed out gifts and toys to all the children. Now she is ready to do more and help even more people in need. Only this time, she is taking things into her own hands and putting on an event she knows her community will support and love!What You Need to Know
Beginning at 10 am AEST on Monday, December 15th (US: December 14th, 7 pm EST), Sleppyy will be starting off her 10+ hour stream for the Dreamscape Foundation, helping raise money for children and families in need! From singing and playing songs on her Ukulele, to talking about life and what people are going through, Sleppyy will have something for everyone to get involved with. She is excited to see the loving and caring side of her community, but also to show them hers. Because this event is just as much for them as it is for the people they are helping. The support her community gives her is incredible, and she is ready to give back to them as well. As a thank you, all donors will receive a gift and be entered into a raffle drawing for one of the grand prizes! Based on the donation, the rewards and prizes are as follows: (please note prizes ship the US only, and all other donors will be awarded additional e-gifts instead)
- Tier 1 – $5:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Raffle entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 2 – $10:
- 1 Random Steam Key
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 3 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 3 – $20:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- Tier 4 – $50:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Star Wars Yoda Collectable Cup
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 2 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 5 – $100:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Star Wars Yoda Collectable Cup
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 6 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- Tier 6 – $250:
- 4 Random Steam Keys
- 1 Dreamscape T-Shirt
- 1 Star Wars Yoda Collectable Cup
- 1 Mystery Funko Pop
- 1 Ukulele Bundle with carrying bag, strap, and picks
- 5 Raffle entries to win a $50 Amazon gift card
- 10 Raffle entries to win a $100 Amazon gift card
- A featured article on our Blog Page
ThePhatBandit’s Month-Long Charity Stream Marathon
ThePhatBandit’s Month-Long Charity Stream Marathon
Erick, also known as ThePhatBandit to his Twitch community, is teaming up with the Dreamscape Foundation for a Charity Stream event like never before. Erick first got into streaming on Twitch through his longtime hobby of gaming. As a regular gamer, he found out about Twitch and started watching other streamers and personalities. After a while, he realized he had the resources to create a channel of his own, so why not? To him, it was more of a way to play games with his friends and connect with a broader community. His only goal was to have fun, make people laugh, and make even more friends.An Open Community that Became Family
ThePhatBandit Twitch Channel is open to everyone looking to have a good time and interact with new people. Whether you are a longtime viewer or just checking it out for the first time, he is quick to invite you to join in and play along with him online. Erick strives just to be himself and network with people around the world he would never have met otherwise. Aside from just playing games, he is very vocal with his community. They talk a lot and consider it like therapy, talking about good days, bad days, whatever, and just hashing things out. When I asked him what he enjoyed most about streaming, he replied, “The comradely and the relationships we built just through our community and other streamers’ communities.” He went on to explain people had tuned in to watch the stream, never knowing them before, and eventually became friends he talks to daily. To Erick, Twitch is a place for people to have fun, play the games they love, and make new friends that’ll last a lifetime.Familiar Territory
Cut from the same cloth, he has been a longtime believer in charity work and helping those in need. So much so, his full-time job is with a nonprofit organization we are proud to call a neighbor here in Naples, FL. The Friends of Foster Children Forever is an organization dedicated to fulfilling the needs of every child who enters or is at-risk of entering the foster care system throughout Collier County. Their primary focus for the children is to help them reach their full potential in life through education and enrichment opportunities, as well as simply enjoying being a kid. One of Erick’s favorite outreach events was when they took a large group of 40+ to a theme park. He remembers the look of pure happiness on each of their faces. Not because it was just another enjoyable day to a group of kids, but he knew for some it was their first time at a theme park and for others, their first time leaving their home town. Erick loves what he does and is excited to be able to combine his passion with his channel as a way to give back and help even more people.The When, What & Why?
Now, as I mentioned, this is a charity stream event like never before for Dreamscape! You may be wondering what is so different this time around? Well, ThePhatBandit has decided to step things up a bit! Rather than streaming for a day or 2, he will be turning this charity stream into a month-long Marathon Event!! Beginning on November 15th and ending on December 15th, Erick will be raising funds to help with our holiday efforts. All proceeds will be used to support various children and families in need throughout the Holiday Season. From adopting families to donating to shelters and foster homes alike. As always, we will be giving thanks to our generous supporters with thank you gifts and entries into our raffle drawings. The awards will be on a tier-based system, ranging from t-shirts and steam keys to Funko Pops and your favorite Call of Duty collectible character figures. Not stopping there, we will send a couple of lucky winners away with our raffle prizes of various Amazon gift cards, with the grand prize being $100! See our prize chart here:
All donations are welcome and beyond appreciated, but are never required! Erick encourages everyone to join in, no matter his or her ability to support. His community is a place for everyone to have fun and join in on the games and conversations. He will be playing various video games, including the new Call of Duty Modern Warfare! Additionally, he will be opening up several discussions around the charity, which we are supporting, and give you his honest thoughts on the matter. As Erick mentioned during his interview, “there is always a way to help out, even if it’s just educating and informing people on a need.” To keep up with Erick and join in his community, we encourage everyone to follow his Twitch Channel, Twitter, Instagram, and to check out his organization, The Friends of Foster Children Forever! « PreviousNext »How a Father’s Loving Act Went International
How a Father’s Loving Act Went International
To a father, his children are a true gift and treasure. They always wish the best for them and would do anything to see them happy. For Gavin Leonard, he just wanted a way to be closer to his daughter and create memories that would last a life time. About 2 years ago, he began writing children’s books to read with his daughter. He never expected this small fatherly act would connect him with people and organizations across the Globe.Gavin’s Inspiration and Motivation
From the moment Gavin laid eyes on his daughter, he knew he would do anything for her. As she got a little bigger, he started thinking of a way to remember the adventures they had together for when she was older. A friend told him how he began a blog to keep track of all the adventures he had with his kids, Gavin couldn’t help but love the idea. He began doing just that and to his surprise, found people were actually interested in following his posts. At the time, Gavin didn’t know where this would lead but luckily enough, his love for his daughter would open doors he couldn’t imagine. When family and friends came to visit, they would always comment on how beautiful she was and that she could be an actress or model. Gavin knew they meant well, but to him it was a bit strange to think of a new born in this way. Additionally, they would always call her a “princess” but Gavin began replying, “she’s not JUST a princess”, for he knew she would be able to do anything she dreamed of. The reason Gavin felt this way came from the books he read to her. To him, they were always the damsel in distress and in need of being saved. Not his daughter! She would be strong and capable on her own. He often made comments about this to his wife, until one day she said, “if you don’t like the books you read… then write your own!?”. And so, he did!The ‘Not Just a Princess Book Series’ is Born
Gavin made a plan and wanted his princesses to get away from the typical fairy tale and make it more real. So, what better title for the series than “Not Just a Princess”? His initial plan was to have his daughter (the princess), have a job and need to solve a problem that came up. But after a while, he knew she would need help and began creating new princesses. The common theme throughout the previous 6-book series is the princesses’ strengths, smarts, and abilities to work together to help one another overcome their problem. He wanted a story for everyone and made the princesses different in all aspects including being different culturally, appearance, etc. He never expected the books to be published but his daughter loved them so much he figured why not try.The Newest Princess and the International Connections she made
Most recently, he decided to go further and include a second princess with a disability. Gavin wanted to show the world the truth of people differently abled. Instead of talking about a disability, he wanted to spread awareness that people have all different strengths and weaknesses no matter who they are. He thought back to his time living with family in China. While there, he spent a lot of time with his niece Nora, who has down syndrome and learned a lot for himself. When I had the opportunity to speak with him, he told me a story of what truly opened his eyes. “Nora loved water”, he said. Her and her siblings would often swim and play. One day when he was with them, he had been throwing Nora’s siblings into the water for fun, when Nora asked to go next. He hesitated out of care and in fear she may get hurt or scared. But her father set the record straight and what he said to Gavin really stuck with him. He said, “she’s just like her sisters and she can be thrown too.” Gavin went and threw her next and after seeing her joy and excitement, he realized nobody should ever be treated differently like that. In honor of his niece, this story follows Nora, a champion swimmer with down syndrome, and how she helps the others solve a problem. But it doesn’t stop there. For this story he wanted to do more than just spread awareness but instead, use it to give back in a better way. Gavin began looking for local charities and connected with Down Syndrome Ireland and the Special Olympics. After hearing all that Special Olympics does for their athletes across the globe, they decided to begin promoting it worldwide. That led to Gavin connecting with us at the Dreamscape Foundation and other nonprofits as well. He explained he planned to donate all proceeds from the book’s sales to different charities and wanted to connect to as many as possible.The Release and Final Details
Should all go as planned, the book is anticipated to be released in Ireland on October 24th, 2019. But you can purchase anytime through Dreamscape Foundation’s direct link!! The charities involved as of now include the Dreamscape Foundation, Special Olympics: Ireland, UK, Down Syndrome: Ireland, and US, and Brainwave UK. All of these organizations will have their own links available to purchase after the book is released! Those links will be used to directly support that organizations, or by purchasing from Not Just a Princess directly the proceeds will be distributed evenly to all organizations. That is how what started out as a way for Gavin Leonard to share time with his daughter, turned into an international movement to spread awareness and give back to the disabled community. Gavin is an amazing guy and has nothing but love in his heart. On a final note, what he wishes to highlight most is how excited he is to be working with various nonprofit organizations on this project and to have the opportunity to raise funds for their continued good work! To keep up with Gavin and the Not Just a Princess book series you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Written by: Nicholas Sibilia « PreviousNext »Dreamscape Foundation: A Charity for the Disabled & Our Community
Dreamscape Foundation: A Charity for the Disabled & Our Community
Founded in 2013, The Dreamscape foundation was created when the founder, Joseph Sehwani was diagnosed with a rare disease at the age of sixteen that took away his vision. Since then, Joseph has created a vision of his own for people suffering from rare diseases. Providing individuals with scholarships, job aids, education accommodations, health aids and all amenities to help them succeed in life. This foundation focuses on supporting their future to provide equality.Accessibility First
We know that living with a disability can negatively impact one’s chances of success in education and employment, but at Dreamscape Foundation, we believe that we have the power to do something to address this. While nothing can prepare us for an unanticipated disability, Dreamscape Foundation offers hope. Our non-profit provides accommodations for individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of education and life-fulfilling work. Our mission is to aid the small population of people affected by sensory impairments to help them achieve success and to fund a cure. We encourage the community to embrace the use of accessible technology to ensure independence. In the past, Dreamscape Foundation had partnered with IT consulting company Intone Networks and accessibility software company User1st to build out our accessibility platform. The program is unique in that we are not aware of any other non-profit organizations who are committed to holding accessibility to such a high standard and provide similar services.Dreamscape Foundation’s Mission
The commitment of Dreamscape comes from Joe Sehwani’s struggles and difficulties after he lost his vision in high school at sixteen. It is a privilege to work with a charity that works hard to ensure others struggling with similar disabilities are well taken care of and know that they are not alone.The prevalence of visual disabilities also stands to show the need for support for those who are blind or living with low vision. Across the world, 285 million people live with some type of visual impairment, with 39 million living with blindness and 246 million with low vision. In the United States, those with a visual disability account for about 2.2% of the total population. Without accessibility, we do a disservice not just to the quality of life for those living with a disability – we also prevent them living to their fullest potential. Our charity can better justify program expenses that involve accessibility. This is illustrated clearly when we look at the number of working-age persons with disabilities in the United States who are employed. Right now, that number is only 35% – Dreamscape believes that with accessibility, that number can be much higher.Helping our Community
Dreamscape partners with many other charities on both a local and national scale with many different missions. We support local charities by partnering with them on fundraisers, campaigns and events as well as support them with various product donations. At Dreamscape, we’re committed to addressing these issues and advocating for the changes needed to help those living with disabilities. Although living with a disability can be a struggle, we are here to assist and support. « PreviousNext »Adjusting to Challenges of Being a Young Adult with Disabilities
Adjusting to Challenges of Being a Young Adult with Disabilities
The transition into adulthood can be quite different for everyone, but nevertheless, still challenging. Waking up and noticing changes to your own body is a difficult time for any child growing up. Now, on top of that, imagine making that same transition with a disability.Facing the real world
For most of us high school is the time of our lives. We get to see our friends everyday, 3 months off during the year, and the only thing we have to worry about is homework and if our crush likes us back. Being a teenager, it is only natural to focus on the things that make you happy, but did anyone ever stop to think about the other types of kids in high school? The ones who struggled or had it more difficult than everyone else. Not many people think much about it, so don’t feel bad. Having a disability means a lot of things and while you’re in school you can receive special education tailored to the specific disability. This is really great… until you wonder what happens after they are no longer in the school system. The reality is, this special education doesn’t help them prepare for adulthood or living on their own after high school. After they exceed the age limit, which in most states is 22, a lot of people lose their support services. For example, the service could be their pediatric therapies are terminated.What happens next?
After high school the average person will either go to college or go straight to working. Then, they will proceed on with their normal lives. But, For people with disabilities it’s not so simple. In 2014, a poll was taken of people 25 and older to determine the percentage of people with disabilities who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics only 16.4% received a bachelor’s degree. After that, 25.5% received some college or an associate’s degree, 36.8% received a high school diploma and no college, and 21.3% received less than a high school education. These percentages are extremely low compared to the average person. This makes it more than difficult for these young adults to find jobs, or even live an independent lifestyle. Not to mention that on top of their daily struggles they go through the constant discrimination, dirty looks, and feeling as if they’re slowing the people around them down. Could you imagine what that life is even like?A life of independence
You may now be wondering how someone with a disability could manage any sense of in-dependency. It’s not easy and sometimes, not possible. There are numerous reasons on top of being under-prepared by education on why it is incredibly difficult for someone to live on their own. These reasons could be that the family member or caregiver simply lacks the easily accessible comprehensive up-to-date resources, options and possibilities. Or, something that is out of their control would be that the funding is extremely scarce. It could also be something as simple as the person has spent too much time with their caregiver or family member. This is extremely typical because someone with a disability doesn’t have personal control of access to transportation or personal assistance. This also results in them having no experience in a social life, making it extremely difficult for someone to pursue a friendship or relationship. In spite of that, listed below are just a few options for a disabled person to begin living independently.- Speak to your physician about local support groups
- Seek employment or volunteer opportunities
- Practice good health and nutrition/ remain active
- Join in on community activities
- Caring for a pet