LA Valiant to raise $500,000 in charity for St. Jude

Olivia Richman Published 12/02/2019

The Los Angeles Valiant are hoping to lift up more than trophies this season. By raising money towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the team is hoping to lift some spirits as well.

“It is part of our DNA to give back to the communities that we serve and represent,” said Los Angeles Valiant executive chairman Noah Whinston.

The Valiant are asking their fans to help them fight childhood cancer by pledging to donate money every time the team wins a map throughout Season 2. Fans can choose the amount they want to donate, and all proceeds will go directly to St. Jude.

Fans can also pledge to donate a chosen amount of money for every final blow the LA Valiant land. The Broom Challenge asks pledges to donate a minimum of $5 for every 4-0 Valiant victory, or any three-in-a-row victories the team gets after being two maps down.

This charity is part of a first of its kind partnership, with the Los Angeles Valiant committing to raising at least $500,000 over the next two years towards St. Jude’s mission to find a cure for cancer and save children’s lives.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s CEO and president Richard Shadyac Jr. marveled at the unique opportunity to engage esports fans, and hopes to find some new supporters from community.

Anyone who pledges over $100 to the Valiant’s cause will receive an exclusive “LA Valiant Plays for St. Jude” t-shirt. The top three donors on the leaderboard at the end of Stage 1 will earn a 30-minute online coaching session with a player from the Valiant.

Mirroring a video game, Valiant also stated that they will “level up” every time a new fundraising milestone is reached. At the time of publication, 68 fans had already pledged, and over $7,400 was raised, unlocking the “Pie to the Face” prize. One Valiant player will receive a surprise pie to the face at an unexpected moment during the 2019 season thanks to fans’ generosity and support.

Earlier prizes include a digital calendar available for download after $1,000 was raised and a makeup tutorial “from the best makeup artist on the team.” Both are promised to be coming soon.

This major campaign is a step up from LA Valiant’s $1,000 donation to St. Jude in Season 1, and shows Valiant’s dedication to maintaining this positive partnership.

Olivia Richman

About Olivia Richman

Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.

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