Last year Tom Vasel of the Dice Tower started the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund, named for his son who was born prematurely and passed away only a few months later. During that time the board gaming community raised a lot of funds to help the Vasel family pay for medical expenses, and as a response to that Vasel wanted to pay it forward to other gamers during their times of need. The first benefit auction took place last year in November, and this year's auction just launched at the beginning of this month. Click here for the auction list on BoardGameGeek.
There's a slew of board games, both new and used, including many of this year's newly-Kickstarted board game companies donating copies of their published (or soon-to-be-published) games. There are also a few video games and other merchandise, plus some people offering services like painting miniatures. One notable entry (#400 on the list) is from Rich Sommer of Mad Men, who is auctioning a game night with two of his friends: Simon Helberg of Big Bang Theory and Jorge Garcia of Lost. (It's currently up at $1,250, and you get to bring a friend. Anyone want to bid on it and invite me?)
If you're not interested in buying anything but you do have games you'd like to donate, that helps, too! Just follow the directions at the top of the auction list (you'll need a BoardGameGeek account to bid or sell). I've added several of the game prototypes and demo versions that I receive of Kickstarter games, so if you collect prototypes here's your chance to get your hands on a few of those (or play some of the games before the published versions are available).
The auction ends midnight November 18, so you have just under a week to bid or donate items. For more info about the Jack Vasel Memorial Fund, visit the website.
