In November 2025, the Rhoades Institute of Technology had its first public presence at Gamesgiving, a gaming convention in Racine, Wisconsin. We were there because someone believed in us before we had anything to show for it.
Tom Dunk and the Guys, Games, and Beer podcast gave RIT its first real opportunity. They graciously donated booth space at Gamesgiving — no cost, no strings, just a chance for a four-month-old nonprofit to show up and see if the idea resonated. That generosity set the tone for everything that followed.
What Happened
Every single person we talked to about RIT had the same reaction: “This is such a good idea. How can I get involved?” That wasn’t polite nodding — that was genuine enthusiasm from people who recognized a gap in their community and saw RIT as something that could fill it.
We received our first donation — five dollars from someone who believed in what we were building. The amount isn’t the point. The fact that a stranger reached into their pocket for an organization that was four months old — that’s the point.
We got our Stripe account set up and running, which meant RIT could accept card donations on the spot. A small infrastructure milestone with outsized importance: we were no longer just a concept. We were a functioning organization that could accept real support.
The Grab Bags
Preparation meant keeping it simple and personal. We put together grab bags with classic Magic: The Gathering cards, premium candy sourced in bulk from local stores, and RIT bookmarks explaining our mission. The bags cost under a dollar each to assemble, but they carried real value — something unexpected and thoughtful that signaled we were there to give, not just to pitch.
Tom Dunk and G2B
It’s worth saying plainly: Tom Dunk and the Guys, Games, and Beer community have been RIT’s first and biggest patrons. Gamesgiving happened for us because they donated the space. No application process, no sponsorship pitch — just one community taking a chance on another.
That’s the model RIT is built on. People who share interests helping each other do bigger things. Tom and G2B didn’t just give us a table at an event. They gave us proof that the gaming community takes care of its own.
What It Proved
Gamesgiving proved something we had theorized but never tested: that gamers and creative communities are a natural starting point for civic engagement. People who cooperate in games, who build communities around shared interests, who show up for each other at conventions — they already have the skills that civic dialogue requires. They just need a space that connects those skills to something bigger.
It also proved that RIT’s approach — leading with genuine connection rather than heavy-handed messaging — works. We didn’t lecture anyone about civic literacy. We handed out grab bags, talked about what we were building, and let people draw their own conclusions. The enthusiasm was organic.
What Comes Next
Gamesgiving was the starting line, not the finish. The connections formed that weekend opened doors to more events, more communities, and more opportunities to test whether RIT’s model scales beyond a single convention in Racine.
The answer to “how can I get involved?” is becoming clearer with every event and every conversation. We’re building something — and now we have proof that people want to be part of it.
Want to join the community we’re building? Visit our community page to learn more, or reach out to connect with us directly.