Dan Delivers High Hopes

WHEN Olivia arrived three months early, Dan Silvia (now Uncle Dan) was already a longtime supporter of Boston Children’s. For eight years, Dan has participated in Extra Life, which unites gamers around the world to fundraise for their local Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospital. His niece’s birth encouraged Dan to elevate his efforts.

Like Dan, “Olivia needed help getting started in life” and received care at Boston Children’s. Dan remembers his mom’s stories of feeling like a patient herself as nurses tended so thoughtfully to their family when he needed surgery as a baby in 1981. Now years later, Dan noticed, “Staff decorated Olivia’s room with a collage of her milestones—from her 1-month birthday to her first procedure and her first burp.”

These unique connections warranted an equally unique celebration, thought Dan, and Extra Life, which combines gaming, creativity and philanthropy, was the perfect fit. So, Dan established The High-Altitude Dice Roll. The fundraiser films a 20-sided die being lifted into near-space via weather balloon to encourage donations based on the number rolled at landing. But it’s not only the stakes that are high! Dan also includes a USB containing pre-recorded messages of hope to be carried into the stratosphere and displayed on screens throughout Boston Children’s.

The campaign excited new audiences about all the ways to give—a perfect fit for Extra Life, which has brought together gamers from all walks of life to help kids since 2008.