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Over the last 20 years, the ESA Foundation has supported those leveraging interactive technologies to create meaningful opportunities in the lives of America’s youth.

Read the stories of our talented scholarship recipients and see how our inspired grant recipients are facilitating the next wave of innovators.

Partner Spotlight

Scholar Spotlight

> Press Release

The ESA Foundation Opens the 2022-23 Scholarship Applications Process, Offering Three Unique Opportunities to Underrepresented Students

2022-23 Scholarship Applications Now Open

> Events | News

What’s Needed to Design and Build an Inclusive Metaverse?

On Wednesday, January 26, 2022, ESA Foundation Executive Director Anastasia Staten led “Video Games and the Metaverse: How We Will Build it Together,” a GamesBeat Summit panel with leading industry members on “building this new reality to reflect our aspirations and diversity.”

> News | Press Release

The ESA Foundation Hosts “Games for Good 2021,” a Week-Long Video Game Streaming Event Raising Funds for Vital Causes

Streamers, esports personalities, sponsors and partners come together online to raise money and awareness for charities helping underrepresented communities and other valuable causes

> News

October 2021 Newsletter: Celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage, Video Game-Style

During a month dedicated to Hispanic/Latinx contributions and culture, we celebrate up-and-coming influencers in the video game industry.

> Scholar Spotlight

Honoring Backgrounds and Big Dreams

The ESA Foundation celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by sharing, in their own words, the skills, stories and aspirations of its nine 2021-22 scholars.

> Press Release

The ESA Foundation Announces Its 2021-22 Scholars

Annual scholarships are awarded to 31 women, minority and LGBTQ+ college students who, emerging from a pandemic, are eager to create video games and content reflecting their lives.

> Partner Spotlight | Perspectives

A Perfect Partnership

Aiming to increase diversity in the video game and other tech industries, the ESA Foundation teams up with Black Girls CODE to empower K-12 students from underrepresented communities.

> Impact | News

2020 – What A Year!

Here's a look back on all of the accomplishments and success ESA Foundation had given the tough circumstances in 2020.

> Impact

A Spectacular Collaborative Effort

With help from 40+ streamers, the ESA Foundation exceeded its #gg2020 fundraising goal and benefited several worthy charities.

> News | Press Release

ESA Foundation Will “Say Goodbye to 2020 For Good” With Week-Long Video Game Streaming Event for Charity

Streamers, esports personalities, sponsors and partners come together online to raise money and awareness for charities helping underrepresented communities and other valuable causes

> Resources

Scholarship Opportunities for Video Game and STEAM-Focused Students

A list of scholarships offered by companies and organizations encouraging people in college to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math

> News

September 2020 Newsletter: Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month and More

We spotlight our Hispanic/Latinx scholars and latest media appearances and share our gratitude for supporter Activision Blizzard and mentor Gordon Bellamy.

> Partner Spotlight

'They Get What We Do'

How Activision Blizzard helps the ESA Foundation diversify the video game industry.

> Scholar Spotlight

An Exceptional Celebration

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, the ESA Foundation recognizes the unique talents and contributions of eight of its 2020-21 scholars.

> News

July 2020 Newsletter: Special Scholarship Edition

Meet the 2020-21 ESA Foundation Scholarship class – 26 scholars, 3 scholarship funds and celebrate some of the achievements of past and current scholars.

> Mentors | Partner Spotlight

Renaissance Presence

Gordon Bellamy’s done it all—game developer, industry exec and leader, gay gaming pioneer. He’s also an ideal mentor.

> News | Press Release

ESA Foundation Opens Doors for Women, Minorities and LGBTQI+ Students

WASHINGTON – July 23, 2020 – Driven by its steadfast commitment to diversifying the video game industry, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation announced today scholarship awards to women, minority and LGBTQI+ college students earning a computer science or video game arts and science-related degree. Scholars receive financial and non-monetary support, including access to influential […]

> Scholar Spotlight

A Special Group of People

Having faced exceptional challenges, this year’s crop of graduating ESA Foundation scholars is arguably more prepared than any to take on the future.

> Scholar Spotlight

A Rock Star Is Born

Liz Kirby, an ESA Foundation Scholarship alumna, grew up in a tech household. But it wasn’t until she attended a Halo launch party that she decided exactly what she wanted to do.

> Scholar Spotlight

Her Brother’s Keeper

ESA Foundation Scholarship alumna Angel Wylie has gone from animating indie video games to handling technical challenges for the triple-A Halo franchise. And she’s done so, in part, to honor her sibling.

> Scholar Spotlight

Sources Of Strength

A Q&A with 2019–20 ESA Foundation Scholar Nyhriel Smith, a Howard University freshman who, empowered by video games, now wants to help empower others.

> Scholar Spotlight

Northern Exposure

When Caitlyn Kenney was an ESA Foundation scholar, she studied abroad in Montreal, where she learned video game-making skills from the pros. Today, she’s an environment artist for Ubisoft.

> Impact

’Tis the Season… to Leverage Video Games

As the holidays approach, consider donating to a nonprofit organization that enlists video games as a tool for improving the lives of children.

> Events | Partner Spotlight

A Glimpse Into The Future

In October, a game jam co-hosted by the ESA Foundation and Amazon Games immersed D.C.-area students in the world of video game design and revealed how much they have to offer the industry.

> Events | Partner Spotlight

Learning From The Pros

A recent event co-hosted by the ESA Foundation and Amazon Games in Washington, D.C., enabled students like Kayla Harwell to create video games with professional help.

> Perspectives

A Recipe For Success

We can all use mentors, no matter who or what age we are. But on this, International Day of the Girl, it’s especially important to recognize the invaluable role mentors can play in young lives.

> Scholar Spotlight

A Joyful Discovery

A brand-new scholarship, funded by the ESA Foundation and co-awarded by Gay Gaming Professionals, recognizes three college video-game-design students for their service to the LBGTQ+ community.

> Scholar Spotlight

Something To Prove

Growing up, Tré Lannon led a relatively rootless existence. He, his sister and his mother, a tax manager by trade, chased jobs from New York to Virginia to Colorado, finally ending up in Arkansas. He hasn’t seen his father, who’s incarcerated for dealing drugs, since he was 3. So video games became a refuge for the now 20-year-old.

> Scholar Spotlight

Making The Personal Universal

Steven Harmon, an ESA Foundation and Gay Gaming Professionals scholar, shares relatable details from his life in the video games he creates, and he’s helping others do the same.

> Scholar Spotlight

All The Right Moves

ESA Foundation scholar Roland Munguia is an aspiring video game designer who, along with his twin brother, is strategizing his way toward a career in the video game industry.

> Scholar Spotlight

Making Connections: A Game-Designing College Student is Helping to Form Communities

ESA Foundation scholarship winner Geneva Heyward wants to showcase marginalized people in video games as dynamic characters — and is encouraging others to do the same.

> Scholar Spotlight

Character Creation: How an NYU Student Would Like to Change the Faces of Video Games

Isiah Rosa, a 20-year-old Brooklynite and ESA Foundation Scholar, is intent on learning all he can about the video-game industry.

> Partner Spotlight

ESA Foundation Announces 2019 Nite to Unite Honoree: Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller team

Young people who, like their friends, love to play video games and express their unlimited creativity. In the past, conventional game controllers have fallen short of helping them fully realize these goals. But, as the ad demonstrated, Xbox has created a new adaptive controller, a device years in the making that enables gamers with limited mobility […]

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