Dungeons & Dragons marathon raises over $111,000 for charity at Forestledge in Burien

In a unique blend of fantasy and philanthropy, a 24-hour Dungeons & Dragons marathon raised an impressive $111,423 for two charitable causes at the Forestledge Mansion in Burien’s Seahurst neighborhood recently.

The event, held from 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, was organized by D&D Experience as part of Microsoft’s Annual Employee Giving Campaign, a month-long initiative that encourages employee donations.

The marathon, described as a “miniature Ren-faire,” attracted more than 20 Microsoft employees, who embarked on an epic role-playing adventure in the fantasy world of Eandroth. Led by Dungeon Master Dennis Nichol, the event entertained both in-person participants and a global audience of more than 1,500 virtual viewers.

The funds raised will benefit Game to Grow, an organization that uses tabletop games to improve mental health and social skills, and The Nature Conservancy, which focuses on global conservation efforts.

Nichol – the producer, director, and host of the event – said this year’s adventure picked up where last year’s left off, with players navigating magical realms and attempting to protect the “Great Temples of Knowledge” from evil forces.

“This year, the heroes worked to secure ‘The Satyan Charge,’ a prophecy that parallels challenges Microsoft faces in protecting its cloud business from hackers and bad actors,” Nichol explained.

Attendees and online viewers contributed donations to influence the outcome of the game, making real-time decisions that shaped the adventure. The marathon featured not only captivating gameplay but also live performances, including custom musical compositions, catered food from local businesses, and live painting.

“Dungeons & Dragons is one of the greatest games ever created for how it can be leveraged in so many ways to express and collaboratively craft stories together,” Nichol added. “I was able to find a way to raise over $100,000 with it!”

The event brought together a wide array of participants, including global remote players, production crew members, local Burien artists, and performers. It was streamed on Twitch to both public and internal Microsoft audiences, showcasing the power of combining entertainment and charitable giving.

To relive the journey or watch highlights from the marathon, here are two videos:

Event Breakdown:

• In-person participants: 2 main cast members for 24 hours, 6 total main cast members, 7 minor character/monsters, production crew, and various local artists and support staff.
• Global remote participants: 34 minor characters, 6 MSFT executives providing narrative, and 12 remote moderators.
• Local partnerships: Catered by Melton BBQ, drinks by Logan Brewery, and live music by Ryan Burns and Jacques Willis.
• Audience: An estimated 1,500 unique viewers via Twitch.

Photos

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