About Extra Life

Extra Life is a nationwide movement bringing together people who share a love of gaming. All funds raised through Extra Life stay local and benefit your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Extra Life Chicago is a group of over 900 gamers who have collectively raised nearly $2 million since 2011 for patients and families at Lurie Children’s. Extra Life game day takes place on the first Saturday of November annually where Gamers commit to gaming and fundraising for the day. Participating in Extra Life looks different for everyone—some people stream video games, some play tabletop games, and some get outside for sports. However, the mission stays the same; you game for every child.

Helping families has always been at the core of Lurie Children’s mission—but we can’t do it without you.

Extra Life Chicago Gaming Convention

Extra Life Chicago Gaming Convention is the first charity gaming convention in the area designed to bring the gaming community together in Chicago. ELCGC is a day-long event where you can play games, support local businesses, meet new friends, cosplay as your favorite character and hear from expert gaming panelists. Participating in the Extra Life Chicago Gaming Convention looks different for every person and organization - but the mission stays the same; you game for every child.

Learn More

A dark colored photo of a game controller.

The Extra Life Chicago Guild Advisory Team

An Extra Life Guild is comprised of passionate Extra Lifers committed to making a direct positive impact within their community. Guild members work together to strengthen the Extra Life community on a local level by registering new members, fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and educating others on Extra Life initiatives.

As change agents of the Extra Life Chicago community, Guild members can attend local gaming industry conferences, connect with other gamers in the Extra Life community and visit Lurie Children’s to game with staff and patients.

Meet our Extra Life Chicago Guild Leadership Board

Community Engagement Chair – Mel Lee-Litowitz

Community Engagement Chairs for Local Tabletop Businesses – Payton Witherell and Nate Clemente

Convention Partnership Chairs – Jon Smith and Emily Kukral

Extra Life Gaming Convention Chair - Nate Clemente

Event Co-Chairs – David Hansen and Melissa Lee-Litowitz

Guild Liaison – Nate Clemente

Graphic Design Chair - Michael Boehnlein

Media Chair – Jen Usesllis

Official Extra Life Discord

Interested in getting more involved? Join our official Extra Life Discord to connect with Guild members!

Join

Apply to join the
Extra Life Chicago Guild Advisory Team

Interested in becoming a Guild member? Fill an application to be part of the Guild Leadership Team.

Sign Up

About Lurie Children’s

In the 2022-2023 U.S.News & World Report rankings of the best children’s hospitals, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago continues to be the top pediatric hospital in Illinois. Lurie Children’s provides superior pediatric care in a state-of-the-art hospital that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, family-friendly design and research through the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. The main hospital is located in downtown Chicago on the campus of its academic partner, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Lurie Children’s has a network of 17 outpatient centers and 12 partner hospitals, providing top pediatric care across the greater Chicago area. As a nonprofit hospital, Lurie Children’s relied on philanthropic support to care for more than 239,000 children last year. Learn more at luriechildrens.org.

About