“I Was That Kid in the Hospital…”
At Games For Love, we often hear this phrase.
It comes from the heart of people who know what it’s like to be a child in a hospital room—scared, bored, and wishing for something to take them away from the beeping machines and endless tests.
One of our own Advisors, Jon Wolhiem, spent extended stays in the hospital as a twelve-year-old child. When Jon discovered Games For Love, he instantly became a warrior for our mission, determined to give today’s kids the comfort and escape he once needed himself. “My dad bought me a Game Boy with Pokémon Red, and man, did I play the pixels out of that thing. I don’t remember the bad parts of those hospital visits…I don’t remember the pain, even though there was a lot of that, but I do remember the entire front-to-back of Pokémon Red.”
Our team has many stories like Jon’s. We know gaming can help lessen stress levels and bring some joy into our lives. But what happens to kids that don’t have access or can’t afford their own portable gaming systems?
Our Founder & CEO, Nathan Blair, started Games For Love after continued visits to Seattle Children’s Hospital with his son, Eli. Even at one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals, Nathan noticed a critical gap: there was no dedicated distraction therapy—no way for kids to simply be kids during treatment. He set out to change that, and today,
Games For Love delivers over 10 million hours of relief annually in hospitals and other facilities.
This personal connection is what drives our team and supporters. Dozens of our core members and volunteers were that kid in the hospital. Hundreds of our content creators and charity streamers were that kid. And thousands of our donors—people like you—were that kid. Together, we know that while video games aren’t a cure, play is powerful medicine for the soul!
The Healing Power of Play
Research shows that “play therapy” can lower blood pressure, ease anxiety, and boost mental health through social connection. As Nathan often says, “It lets kids be kids, even if they’re in the hospital.”
No one understands this better than J.J. Bouchard. At age seven, J.J. was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and spent a week at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. It was there that he first experienced the magic of video games.
“It was basically the only good thing that happened to me while I was there,” J.J. recalls.
Twenty years later, J.J. returned to Mott—this time not as a patient, but as a recreational therapist. Remembering how much gaming helped him, he began incorporating it into therapy for other kids. Today, as Manager of Patient Technology and Therapeutic Recreation, J.J. leads Mott’s Therapeutic Gaming and Digital Technology Program, bringing video games, AR, and VR to patients as powerful tools for:
🎮 Mobility – Games that encourage movement, build motor skills, and even get kids exploring through AR adventures like Pokémon Go.
🧩 Mental Stimulation – Coding, building robotic kits, and problem-solving through gameplay.
💬 Social Connection – Group gaming that helps patients make new friends during their stay.
💖 Normalization – Kids can play their favorite games and stay connected to friends and family, even from their hospital bed.
“The technology we provide helps a child still feel human,” J.J. says. “To have the things they love available and accessible keeps them grounded and helps motivate them to get better.”
Join the Mission
At Games For Love, we believe every child deserves a chance to laugh, play, and heal—even in the toughest moments. When you give, you’re not just funding technology or video games—you’re giving kids a lifeline of hope, joy, and connection.
✨ You can be the reason a child smiles today.
