Gamers Who Give: Meet Jel
Welcome to our latest installment of "Gamers Who Give," where we highlight members of our community who embody the spirit of gaming for good. Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to Jel, a multiyear participant in The Gauntlet.
el's passion for volunteerism extends far beyond the gaming world, making her an inspiring figure in our community. Her years of dedication to various special volunteer projects across Seattle showcase her commitment to making a difference. As both a friend and colleague, Jel brings a unique perspective to our Gamers Engaged community, blending her love for gaming with her drive to give back.
Join us as we dive into Jel's experiences with The Gauntlet, her volunteer work, and her thoughts on the intersection of gaming and philanthropy.
Why do you keep coming back to the Gauntlet year after year?
So I've been a part of the Gauntlet for, idk, 4 or 5 years? Most of those were as a participant + 1 year as a member of the Engage team, seeing it from the other side. I don't think I'd heard of a charity event like this before and I remember being very excited to see what this charity game tournament was all about. I was blown away by the turnout of our gaming community, the creative planning that went into the event theming, the surprise of the final games (what a treat!), and the collective result of our fundraising efforts. It was a no-brainer that I'd be back to support the mission of the Gauntlet and more importantly, sharing it with others.
What's your favorite Gauntlet memory?
For me, it was forming stronger friendships with my teams while practicing the games. We had a group that was so passionate about games that even after the tournament was over, we continued a our lunch boardgame sessions almost daily. Anyone who wanted to join or learn was welcome but it became a tradition. It got competitive. Ha!
Lyla shared you're passionate about volunteering. What's an organization we should all know about and support?
Yeah, I have a bit of a history with volunteering. When I first moved to Seattle, I used volunteering as a way to explore the city a bit. That ranged from assisting the city in preserving public artworks, helping the Foundation departments for Overlake Hospital & Pilchuck Glass Blowing school, working the galas for the Kirkland Art Center, planning web improvements for NAMI, and occasionally supporting some charity marathons. Lately I've been a regular for Centro de la Raza's galas, both as a volunteer and a participant, to support building a central hub for the Latino/a community. I learned about this one from the Gauntlet actually and reached out to learn more.
There's plenty of volunteering opportunities to explore around the city and many causes to help with. I'm just particularly drawn to the arts, health and mentoring.
What game are you currently playing that you can't stop? Why?
I just finished up Spiderman 2 on PS5. I'm a long-time Spiderman fan and I love what they did to represent the communities of New York. I just about cried during the pigeon mission in this one (IYKYK). I'm about to start up Chants of Sennaar next.
If you were an in-game character - what game and what role would you play?
That's a hard question! Right now it's a toss up between being an MVP customer in Dave the Diver, complete with the ridiculous mind-blowing cut scene when tasting that perfect fish dish. Or being a squad member in the Mass Effect series with specialties in Tech & Combat. I have a soft spot for sci-fi settings.
Why are you a fan of Gamer's Engaged?
There's a lot of good that's happening these days involving games and special causes. What I really appreciate about Gamers Engaged is that help is not just focused on one cause, it's shared across different groups each year. And to do this kind of work using a medium that brings joy to people, what's not to love?
What's your alignment?
I have a sweater that says I'm "Chaotic Nice". I think that's the best way to put it.
As we continue to grow and expand our impact, it's individuals like Jel who remind us of the incredible potential within the gaming community to effect positive change. Whether it's through participating in events like The Gauntlet, volunteering for local causes, or simply sharing the joy of gaming with others, every action contributes to building a better world.
We're grateful to Jel and all our supporters who believe in the vision of Gamers Engaged. Together, we're proving that gaming can be a powerful force for good, bringing joy to people while supporting important causes.
