Magic: The Gathering Community Raises More Than $24,000 for Children's Cancer Association
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Portland, OR – [August 20, 2026] – Children's Cancer Association is proud to announce that Tap for Hope's inaugural charity event, The Quest for a Cause, raised $24,442 in support of free JoyRx Mentorship programs for children and teens in treatment.
Held May 15 through 17, 2026, The Quest brought together 322 registered players and more than a total of 400+ convention attendees from the competitive Magic: The Gathering community across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Tap for Hope is a volunteer-run Portland nonprofit dedicated to enabling the Magic: The Gathering community to give back with confidence and transparency.
“My Team and I were blown away by the support we received as we prepared for our first event," Eric, Tap for Hope's Founder, said. "The positive impact the Magic community can deliver is boundless. We’re extremely appreciative of our supporters, and, with everyone’s help, we hope to continue making a bigger difference in the future!"
JoyRx Mentorship fosters trusted companionship to inspire friendship and belonging during an isolating time, providing emotional support to children in treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as critical support to parents and caregivers who endure the hardships of hospital stays with their child. We consistently hear from families and hospital staff how isolating, lonely, and scary the hospital environment can be for kids and families. Our program addresses these issues directly through intentional mentorship matches made in collaboration with our hospital partners. We work together to identify and enroll families who may benefit from this free-of-charge emotional support programming to bolster their current medical care.
JoyRx Mentors arrive for hospital visits with specially selected toys, games, and activities to help their young friends find joy, dispel stress and anxiety, and feel connection instead of loneliness and isolation. For parents and caregivers, these visits offer a moment of respite, allowing them to take a walk, grab some coffee, speak privately with physicians, spend time with their other children, or simply take an opportunity to step away and breathe.
“JoyRx Mentorship is truly powered by community,” says Jack Pipkin, CEO of Children’s Cancer Association. “Our extraordinary volunteer mentors show up for children and families when they need them most, and this work is only possible because of community support. The Tap for Hope community is an important part of that equation, and we are so grateful for everyone coming together to help create more moments of connection and joy for hospitalized kids.”
The Quest was made possible by an community of supporters, including vendors and artists Dungeon Ruins, Hyatt Regency Portland, Goldsabertooth, Laughing Dragon MTG, F6 Supply, BONEYARD, Kilydwn, Sauce Goblin, Grambulon, Legendary Artifacts, and Evan Pierce Photography; content creators DootLoot, MentalMisplay, CriticalEDH, BiteSized MTG, MTG Basics, ComedIan MTG, Lua Stardust, Higher, CEDH NW, TAGC Podcast, Sam's Table Podcast, Wizards & Warlocks MTG, Zabracus, and Playing with Power; and communities including Dragon Parlor Games, EDH Top 16, Eldrazi.dev, SeaEDH, PDX cEDH, Bay Area cEDH, Spokane cEDH, and the Etali, RogThras, BlueFarm, r/cEDH, and MTG Marketplace Discord communities. Additional support came from Daybreak Magic Online, Sapporo Breweries, Team Monolith, KessCo, Fox Trash Alters, and Matt Stikker.
Tap for Hope's next event, The Quest II, takes place in April 2027. Registration information is available at topdeck.gg.
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For media inquiries or more information about Children's Cancer Association or JoyRx programs, please contact: Andrea Tichy, atichy@joyrx.org, or call (503) 200-5102.
For media inquiries or more information about Tap for Hope, please contact: charity.cedh@gmail.com.
A Mission Built on Joy | About Children’s Cancer Association
Children’s Cancer Association was founded in 1995 by the Ellis family after their five-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died of cancer — with a new vision for what pediatric cancer support services might look like.
Each year, our free JoyRx Music®, JoyRx Mentorship®, and JoyRx Nature® programs are shared with approximately 40,000 seriously ill children, teens, and their families across the nation.
Our trauma-informed programs are based on research and best practices, aligned with child life specialist goals, and are informed by family feedback. We work closely with care teams to provide engaging enrichment activities that help transform the pediatric experience. Simply put: joy makes sick kids feel better. Learn more at JoyRx.org.
About Tap for Hope
Tap for Hope is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon, empowering Magic: The Gathering players to create lasting contribution through charitable events and a shared passion for community and cEDH. Learn more at ccedh.org.