Charity Events

Play With Purpose: This is Gaming That Gives Back

At Gen Con, community isn't just something we celebrate at the game table. Every year, thousands of attendees don’t just come to play; they come to support. Whether it’s watching Cardhalla rise and fall in a glorious crash of generosity, donating blood to help save lives, or bidding on rare finds in the charity auction, you play a part in something bigger with our charity partners.

Explore Our Charity Events

Auction and Consignment Shop
Balloon Sculpture
Blood Drive
Cardhalla

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Bid in the Auction

Charity Auction

On Saturday, we have our annual Gen Con Auction. Items donated by Exhibitors, individuals, and more will be auctioned off. All proceeds go directly to our Charity Partners of the year.

Collectibles Auction

The Collectibles Auction caters to rare and coveted items. Want a sneak peek? Look for Collectibles Auction items in the glass showcase near the auction stage.

Consignment Store

If you’d rather shop than attend a bidding war, peruse and discover hidden gems amongst the thousands of items available at the Consignment Store. There are more games, room for browsing, and short wait times. Anyone with a valid Gen Con badge can enter and purchase items without registering for the auction. New items are added throughout the show, with some prices changing daily.

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Pop the Balloon Sculpture

Each year at Gen Con, something magical takes shape—literally. Our beloved balloon sculpture is more than just a towering feat of balloons and creativity; it’s a tradition that brings our community together for a cause. Designed and constructed on site by a talented team of balloon artists, this massive, ever-evolving structure becomes a must-see photo op, a meeting point, and a marvel of engineering and whimsy.

The balloon sculpture is part of our charity fundraising efforts, benefiting our charity partners. Once the convention is near the end, we raffle off the first pop of the balloon sculpture. Every dollar raised helps support vital community programs, and every visitor who donates is part of something bigger than balloons.

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Donate to Our Blood Drive

Get ready to make a difference and score big at the Gen Con Blood Drive, proudly run by the American Red Cross and the Heinlein Society!

By donating blood, you make a significant difference in the lives of others, and your donation helps people in need of blood transfusions due to surgery, cancer treatment, trauma, and more.

Every donor will receive a loot crate valued at over $250, packed with epic gaming stuff and exclusive digital goodies. Plus, each day, we’re giving away prizes valued at over $500!

Please join us in this life-saving action and “pay it forward,” as author Robert Heinlein said. Donation times have been extended to make your donation as easy and as quick as possible.

Sign up now to reserve your appointment with the Red Cross.

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Build and Destroy Cardhalla

Build

Cardhalla is a charity event that has been held at Gen Con since 1999. Grab a pile of cards and start folding and stacking. All are welcome to come and go as you like. Free to participate! Try not to knock down other creations, and if you need help, just ask.

Donate

Have playing cards you don’t need? Drop them off! Want to help clean at the end? You’re in! Want to help fold for others? Let us know. In the end, this event is all about teamwork for a good cause.

Destroy

And of course, what goes up must come down. Help us destroy the whole thing Saturday night by throwing your loose change to level the city! All change is donated to our charity partners.

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