Part of the organization’s outreach efforts focus on seniors in the community, encouraging those in nearby retirement communities or assisted living facilities to routinely play games during the day at the cafe. But social media has been the nonprofit’s main form of advertising, so generating interest or excitement among seniors has been slow.
So far, Spielbound’s fundraising efforts have totaled $40,000. Roughly half was used to initially build or restore the game library. The other half supports four projects: encouraging teachers’ use of games in schools; Stay Sharp Seniors, which promotes the health benefits of game play in seniors; Everyone Plays, where volunteers teach the public a new game each day; and, SpielMasons, a group that creates and tests new games.
“I don’t think people should dismiss this as only a leisure-time activity,” Dr. Michaud says. “Everybody plays games on some level. In many ways, playing board games brings introverts and extroverts together in a way where they are all on even footing and can more easily get along—something we all could use more of these days.”
Carol Patton is a freelance writer based in Las Vegas.
