Community Spotlight:
NerezzaConvoca
Tell us why you wanted to make a difference for amfAR?
A huge part of what I do on Twitch and with events I am part of is try to raise awareness of and support for different organizations and groups that are doing amazing things to help communities I’m involved in. With friends and peers that are affected by HIV/AIDS, I feel a personal connection to helping advance the awareness, research, and fundraising it will take to end AIDS once and for all!
What inspired you to make a difference through fundraising?
A lot of the time I think we as people have so many things that try to grab our focus (and our wallets). It’s important to draw that focus through fundraising and outreach events as much as possible! I believe we all want to do better for our communities, but sometimes we just need a nudge in the right direction. By shining a light on fundraising opportunities, it gives people a chance to recognize great causes and pour their resources into them.
What motivated you to become a content creator?
Full disclosure: I love video games and I love to talk so it seemed like a match made in heaven! But truly a lot of pieces fell into place last year (and a partner that shares my interests and is my biggest supporter!) that made for a great opportunity to put myself out there and try to be part of a platform like Twitch. Over time, I’ve learned that community building is a passion of mine, and the intersection of our interests, struggles, and personal stories can be told and experienced through good content.
What are some of your favorite rewards or incentives you used while fundraising?
My favorite incentives are ones that are as interactive as possible. Some that I’ve done more than once (since I love them) are Pokémon card pack giveaways during pack openings, changing settings in Mario Kart with donations (and subsequently increasing my personal donation based on how poorly I perform in the races), and Crowd Control, where donating money to a cause allows the viewers to directly manipulate the game I’m playing. Giving money is wonderful, and a lot of people are willing to give to a great cause, but messing with the streamer is priceless!
What are your philanthropic goals for 2021?
My ultimate goals are to bring awareness to as many charities as possible, as well as to raise an all-time high for the channel for charitable events. This year, we have streamed to benefit 12 charities including but not limited to The Trevor Project, Stop AAPI Hate, Drag Queen Story Hour, NQAPIA, ALS Research, and now amfAR. As a channel, we’ve raised about $6,000 collectively this year and are hoping to break $7,000! We’ve also brought awareness to multiple different communities and areas of research with open forum questions and guest streamers/speakers to help spread as much information as possible.
What sort of games do you prefer to stream and which ones are you most excited about this year?
The games I love to stream the most are ones with stories that I can break down as we play. Though I do play a variety of games, the ones that are deep and make you think are my all-time favorites. With the year almost up, I’ll actually pick one I’m excited for coming next year. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is something I’m VERY excited to play!
What makes a game great for streaming?
Honestly, I think any game can be a good stream game depending on the streamer. But for my stream, anything that I can maximize interaction with the community makes the best stream game.
What game franchises define your taste?
The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy franchises define my tastes the most by far, with lots of other eclectic selections sprinkled in when I’m looking for an exciting change!
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Please contact charitystream@amfar.org with any questions. If you plan to host a live stream fundraiser, please reach out! We would love to make sure that you have the support you need, and we might even feature your charity stream on our website and social channels!