Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Gamers Outreach
Legal Name (if Different): Gamers Outreach Foundation
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 4860 Washtenaw Ave, Ste I 435
City: Ann Arbor
State: MI
Postal Code: 48108
Main Phone: 4013095697
Main Fax:
Organization Website: gamersoutreach.org
Employer ID Number: 26-0321174
Organization Tax Status: Registered 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/26/25
Requested Amount: $4,000

Project Title: Project GO Kart: Therapeutic Play for Hospitalized Children in Florida
Project Description:

Project GO Kart provides hospitalized children with therapeutic recreation through custom-built medical equipment and child-friendly video games. Gamers Outreach designs and builds mobile gaming kiosks known as GO Karts (Gamers Outreach Karts). Implemented inside hospitals, GO Karts are all-in-one units equipped with gaming consoles, monitors, controllers, and age-appropriate games to engage children at their hospital bedside. Designed with input from healthcare professionals, GO Karts are built to withstand the demands of hospital environments, meet infection control standards, and serve children of all backgrounds.

Gamers Outreach requests continued support from Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation for Project GO Kart in Florida. Project GO Kart’s main goal is to facilitate positive health outcomes through direct access to therapeutic play and mental and socioemotional support. With this grant, we aim to implement one new GO Kart inside a St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, engage 8 children per day, and provide over 4,300 hours of therapeutic play within one year. Project GO Kart taps into a child’s natural enthusiasm for play and video games. Our kiosks provide a hands-on, hospital-based gaming experience that helps replace feelings of isolation, anxiety, and boredom with connection, comfort, and joy.

Since 2007, we’ve built and implemented 2,400 GO Karts. We operate 4 GO Karts at St. Joseph’s Children’s. However, the demand in the hospital–by both patients and staff–exceeds current availability. The existing GO Karts are shared among multiple departments, leaving some children without access to play. Support from the Hermanowski Foundation will address the insufficient number of GO Karts and give children in need more consistent access to therapeutic play.

Finally, St. Joseph’s provided Gamers Outreach with a letter of support highlighting their need for this partnership and GO Kart. Please see the letter here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dmDWAABSnQziJYbiTP-EobPctFrYB6Me/view

Total Project Budget: 67,500

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Community Foundation Tampa Bay (Pending), Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation (Committed), Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Committed), Child’s Play Charity (Committed)

Project Duration: It is important to note that our program will last longer than a traditional one-year grant period without additional grant support from the Foundation. GO Karts are incredibly sustainable. Unlike other initiatives that wind down as grant funds are depleted, our project maintains its momentum. The key to our program’s sustainability is our use of durable, eco-friendly materials in the GO Karts. This approach ensures the longevity of each gaming kiosk.
Geographical Area Served: Tampa, FL
Age Group To Be Served: Our program is available to all patients under 19 years of age. However, our program traditionally reaches those 6 – 13 years old most often.

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr.
Contact First Name: Dimitri
Contact Last Name: Teixeira
Contact Title: Grant Manager
Contact Phone: 401-309-5697
Contact Email: dteixeira@gamersoutreach.org