About us

A conspiracy for good.

GameChanger began with one family's hardest years — and a discovery that play could carry a sick child through them. Nearly two decades later, that idea reaches children in hospitals on five continents.

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25,000+

children supported

250

hospitals across 5 continents

96%

of donations fund the mission

Our mission

Bring hope, healing, and connection to every child we serve.

GameChanger is a holistic pediatric support organization. We use the power of play — games, technology, and shared joy — to ease the hardest days of childhood illness, building the spaces, delivering the tech, and funding the programs that help kids feel like kids again in hospital rooms around the world. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, run almost entirely by volunteers, with 96% of every donation going directly to the mission.

Our story

It started in a hospital room.

Founded more than fifteen years ago by Jim Carol and his son Taylor — during Taylor's years-long battle with pediatric cancer.

Jim Carol, Founder of GameChanger Charity

When Taylor was diagnosed as a child, gaming became more than a distraction. Through long treatments and longer nights, play gave him joy, connection, and a sense of normalcy that medicine alone couldn't. It was a lifeline.

Taylor survived. And the Carols made a promise: every hospitalized child should have access to the same comfort. That promise became GameChanger — built to share hope with the kids who need it most, and with the families beside them.

Today GameChanger reaches more than 25,000 children across 250 hospitals on five continents, still powered by the same belief that brought it to life.

"This isn't a charity run by suits in offices. It's run by volunteers, caregivers, and real people who believe in showing up for kids."

— Jim Carol, Founder

What makes us different

Lived experience, run by volunteers.

GameChanger was built by a survivor and his family — not assembled in a boardroom. That origin shapes everything we do.

❤️

Kids first

Every decision starts with what a child actually needs to feel like a kid again.

🔍

Radical transparency

96% of funds reach the programs — and we want you to see exactly where your gift goes.

🚀

Tech for good

We bring real innovation — consoles, devices, 3D printing — to the bedside.

🤝

Humanity + innovation

Compassion and creativity together, from people who have lived the hardest version of this.

The essentials

Who we are, on paper.

A registered nonprofit

501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 26-3438815. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Based in Dana Point, CA

A small, mission-driven home base for a network that spans the globe.

Volunteer-powered

Run almost entirely by volunteers — gamers, caregivers, and people who show up for kids.

Global reach

250 hospitals across five continents, and growing.

25,000+ children

And the families beside every one of them.

96% to mission

The vast majority of every dollar goes straight to programs for kids.

Leadership

Founders & Board of Advisors.

A founding family and a group of advisors from gaming, technology, and the arts — guiding the mission forward.

Jim Carol

Founder. Co-founded GameChanger with his son Taylor and leads the volunteer-driven mission.

Taylor Carol

Co-Founder. A childhood-cancer survivor whose experience with the power of play sparked the organization.

Alyssa Carol

Board of Advisors · Broadway Performer

Tom Giardino

Board of Advisors · Valve / Steam Business Team

Brent Carlson

Board of Advisors · Global Client Partner, Reddit, Inc.

Carolyn Becker

Board of Advisors · Senior Account Manager, Reddit

Andy Schneider

Board of Advisors · Creative Strategy Manager, Reddit

Neil Brosnahan

Board of Advisors · Business Intelligence Engineer, Les Schwab

Board roster current as of staging build.