What is Extra Life?

Extra Life is a charitable gaming program of Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals which raises funds and awareness across the U.S. and Canada. There are thousands of Extra Lifers (gamers who sign up for Extra Life) across the world who raise money for their local children’s hospital by playing games. Since its inception in 2008, more than $145 million has been raised for Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals, with more than $1 million supporting Children’s Health.

There are two ways to participate in Extra Life. Join thousands of gamers for Extra Life Game Day, an annual celebration where players come together to play games and raise funds for local children’s hospitals, or support Children’s Health through year-round gaming and fundraising. Whether you choose Game Day or participate throughout the year, both options are free to join. Every dollar you raise helps support patients at Children’s Health.

How does Extra Life work?

No matter which Extra Life path you choose, getting started is easy. Register for free, set a fundraising goal and start playing games to support patients at Children’s Health.

How to Register for Extra Life

1. Sign up for Extra Life
Go to www.extra-life.org and make sure you choose Children's Health as your hospital of choice.
2. Fundraise and Recruit Your Team
Ask your family and friends to donate to your Extra Life fundraiser page. Post on social, share via your stream or text.
3. Play Any Game on Any Day of the Year
Raise funds, have fun and help make life better for children.

Participate in Extra Life Game Day 2026

Extra Life Game Day 2026 kicks off Saturday, Nov. 7, and runs through Nov. 15. Sign up for free (see above) to raise funds for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, including Children’s Health, by playing video games, tabletop games or streaming however you like.

Event details

Dates: Nov. 7-15, 2026
Cost: Free to register
Location: Anywhere you like to play, including online streams, console, PC or tabletop
Beneficiary: Choose from 170 local children’s hospitals across North America, including Children’s Health

How to participate

Register for free: Sign up as an Extra Life participant and select Children’s Health as your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
Share your fundraiser: Tell your friends and family why you’re playing and invite them to support your efforts with a donation.
Play your way: Join the community during Game Day and Game Week, Nov. 7-15, or play whenever it works for you. Every game played and dollar raised helps change kids’ health.

Watch this quick announcement video to see how gamers are rallying their communities to support local children’s hospitals through Extra Life.

About Extra Life Charity

Extra Life was started after an Orange, Texas, radio station connected with Victoria, a young girl battling leukemia. The station was able to donate video games to help Victoria and other patients whose illnesses required an extended stay at the hospital. Unfortunately, after four years and several relapses, Victoria lost her battle. Jeromy “Doc” Adams wanted to honor Victoria’s life and created Extra Life, a way for gamers to raise money doing something they love. On October 15, 2008, the first Extra Life event was held. Over 1,200 gamers showed up, and news of the event spread. In 2010, Extra Life officially became a CMN Hospitals program.

Today, Extra Life is connected with over 100,000 gamers and has partnerships with some of the most prominent gaming streams like Twitch and Rooster Teeth.

The impact of your Extra Life Fundraiser on Children’s Health

When you participate in Extra Life, you’re helping provide life-changing care for patients at Children’s Health. Since 2010, local gamers have raised more than $1 million through Extra Life to support Children’s Health. Every Extra Life donation supports the greatest needs at Children’s Health, including the enhancement of care, the discovery of cures and the building of a healthier community across all Children’s Health campuses. Your support helps ensure patients and families have access to the best experience, the best care and ultimately a fighting chance to get back to being kids again.

Together, Extra Life participants, streamers and gamers help Children’s Health deliver hope, healing and a brighter future for children across North Texas.

Meet our Extra Lifers

There are many ways to participate in Extra Life and many different supporters. Explore below to learn more about all the ways you can play games and make life better for children.

Kirsten Miller
Kirsten Miller plays Final Fantasy and streams it on Twitch. She asks her viewers and followers to donate while she’s streaming.
DFW Gaming Village
This group of gamers plays tabletop games. They host game days at their house and ask their guests to bring a donation. Throughout the night they also host raffles and other fun games.
OpTic Gaming
Children’s Health partner, OpTic Gaming, has raised over $71,000 and donated three gaming carts to Children’s Health.

Testimonials

Resources for getting started with Extra Life gaming

Graphic Collection

Students and Corporations

If you’re a student or company looking to get your peers involved with Extra Life, take a look at the below resources to get started.

Student Guide Corporate Guide

FAQs

There are many ways to participate in Extra Life and many different supporters. Click below to learn more about all the ways you can play games and make life better for children.

What percentage of Extra Life donations go to charity?

One hundred percent of funds raised through Extra Life benefit local pediatric hospitals like Children’s Health, supporting life-saving treatments and patient-family support programs that help children heal.

Is Extra Life an accredited charity?

Yes, Extra Life is a legitimate, accredited charity that benefits children and local pediatric hospitals. It is an official peer-to-peer fundraising program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, an established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

How can I make my fundraiser more successful?

Customize your DonorDrive fundraising page
Become an Extra Life Platinum Participant
Create your Facebook Fundraiser
Utilize fundraising milestones and incentives on your DonorDrive fundraising page
Enable DonorDrive Live Fundraising
Utilize the Extra Life Multimedia Kit and Live Stream Tools
Make sure to use the extralife tag on Twitch and #extralife on YouTube
Download the DonorDrive Charity Fundraising app
Share about Extra Life on your social media channels
Always tag Extra Life and your local hospital when you share posts regarding Extra Life activities.

How can I play games with friends and family through Extra Life?

Family game night can include your favorite card, board or video games or backyard games like tag or cornhole. You can also play online making it easy to connect with friends and family near and far. Many game offer online versions and platforms like Board Game Arena let you play a variety of board games directly from your web browser with no download required. Another option is Steam, a digital gaming platform where you can buy and play games. They feature games from diverse genres: free-to-play, indie, sports and more.

Whether you gather in person or virtually, invite others to join the fun and help raise funds through Extra Life.

How do I host a tabletop game night?

Whether you’re gathering with family and friends, coworkers or your local community, you can turn any game night into an Extra Life fundraiser. Simply let participants know that the event will help raise funds for Children’s Health through Extra Life.

Here are a few ways to make your game night even more impactful:

Charge an entry fee: Ask participants to make a donation to join the fun. Offer a variety of games or game stations to appeal to different interests.
Host a tournament: Create a bracket-style competition featuring card, board or tabletop games. Consider offering prizes to winners and runners-up.
Offer a re-roll donation: Let players make a donation for a second chance on an important dice roll, similar to a mulligan in golf.
Add donation-based game perks: Create fun rule twists, bonuses or challenges that players can unlock with a donation.
Donate after a loss: Encourage good-natured competition by asking the loser of each game to make a small donation. Others can join in too.
Hold a silent auction or raffle: Partner with local businesses to secure donated items and invite guests to bid or purchase raffle entries throughout the event.

No matter how you choose to play, the goal is to have fun while making a difference for local kids. Before your event, be sure to register at www.extra-life.org so participants know where to make their donations and can support your fundraising efforts.

Questions?

Please reach out to Marcie Long with any questions at marcie.long@childrens.com.

Head to Extra Life's fundraising page to register your game night fundraiser and watch the donation roll in to support Children’s Health.