fundraising efforts Archives

AppWizard

March 22, 2026

Russia is killing Telegram, its most popular messaging app, despite fears of pushback

The Kremlin is increasing its control over Telegram, Russia's most popular messaging app, leading to resistance from citizens and regime supporters. Telegram serves as an essential communication tool for many Russians, including pro-Kremlin activists like Grigory Korolyov, who uses it for military fundraising, and Olga Krygina, who organizes humanitarian aid. The government frames Telegram as a platform for terrorism, justifying restrictions by claiming it does not comply with Russian laws. Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, is under investigation for allegedly assisting terrorism, which he denies, suggesting the crackdown is a government attempt to suppress dissent. The promotion of a state-backed alternative, MAX, has faced skepticism and connectivity issues. Military bloggers express concern that a potential ban on Telegram could harm battlefield communication, with reports indicating soldiers are being told to remove the app. Despite assurances from the Kremlin about alternative communication systems, experts argue that Telegram is vital for military operations, raising doubts about the effectiveness of MAX in this context.

AppWizard

January 21, 2026

Viral Grandma streams ‘Minecraft’ to fund grandson’s cancer treatment

An 81-year-old grandmother from Arizona, Sue Jacquot, known as GrammaCrackers, started a YouTube channel to raise funds for her grandson Jack's rare cancer treatment. She began streaming Minecraft after being introduced to it by her grandsons, Austin and Jack. Her channel has gained 360,000 subscribers and released 12 videos in two months. All ad revenue from her videos goes towards Jack's treatment for Sarcoma Cancer. A GoFundMe campaign initiated by Austin has raised over 0,000, and fans have created a memecoin to support Jack's treatment. Austin expressed gratitude for the community's support, which has helped with medical bills. GrammaCrackers recently streamed with Jack, showcasing her Minecraft creations.

AppWizard

November 18, 2025

Legendary game designer, programmer, Space Invaders champion, and LGBTQ trailblazer Rebecca Heineman has died

Rebecca Heineman, a pioneering figure in the gaming industry, passed away at the age of 62 following a recent cancer diagnosis. She was the first officially recognized U.S. champion of a video game, winning a national Space Invaders tournament in 1980. Over her career, she contributed to 67 games and was known for her programming skills, including porting titles like Wolfenstein 3D and Baldur's Gate. Heineman publicly embraced her identity as a transgender woman and was an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity in technology. She faced an aggressive cancer diagnosis in early 2024, prompting her to seek support through GoFundMe for treatment costs. After her passing, tributes from the gaming community highlighted her contributions to foundational games and her kindness towards others.

TrendTechie

December 21, 2024

Оказывается, «Сталкер 2» нельзя будет скачать даже с торрентов: почему обойти запрет не удастся

Gamers have been warned that "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl" may soon be classified as prohibited content. Developers have removed the Russian voiceover, banned sales in Russia and Belarus, and are fundraising for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, leading to the blocking of the game's websites by Roskomnadzor for spreading extremist information. A major piracy platform has advised users not to expect a repack of the game due to concerns it may be classified as extremist, which could result in legal consequences for distributing it. The government can track users who purchase or distribute prohibited content, making it easier to identify sources and downloaders. The situation poses legal risks for sellers, piracy services, streamers, reviewers, and guide authors. Potential bans on purchases could be interpreted as financing terrorism due to the game's association with an organization labeled as extremist in Russia. If illegal content is found in the game, the implications would be more severe.

AppWizard

August 5, 2024

Devs turn to Patreon after Humble Games collapse leaves studio without support: ‘We lost access to the pipeline of critical systems without warning’

Squid Shock Studios, the developer of the game Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, is facing challenges after their publisher, Humble Games, shut down, resulting in a loss of critical post-launch support. The studio lost access to essential systems on July 25th and can currently only manage the game on Steam, with console support still unavailable. To seek additional support, Squid Shock has launched a Patreon membership program with six tiers, starting at £1 per month, and has gained 22 paid members so far. They have also submitted a new patch to the QA team for version 1.1 of their game.

AppWizard

July 8, 2024

Summer Games Done Quick 2024 raises $2.5m

Summer Games Done Quick raised over .5 million for charity this year, with the funds going to Doctors Without Borders. The event has raised a total of million for various charities since it started 14 years ago.