NES Trail raises nearly $1,000 for charity with ‘Super Smash Bros.’ tournament, sets next event for Feb. 28
From a press release:
NES Trail, a local group of video gamers and collectors, hosted a “Super Smash Bros.” Wii U tournament at the Forty Fort municipal building on Sunday, Nov. 1, with proceeds benefiting the Wyoming Valley Children’s Association and its Together We Grow Preschool. The next tournament will be held on Sunday, Feb. 28.
NES Trail donated prizes for the top three finishers of the Nov. 1 tournament and raffled off items, including gift certificates from local businesses and video game collectibles. In addition to the tournament, NES Trail set up a wide variety of gaming systems and games, covering almost 40 years of gaming, for those attending to play and experience.
WVCA is a nonprofit organization offering early childhood education programs to nurture the development potential of all children. The agency offers a rich learning environment, individualized instruction, small class sizes, certified teachers, and access to expert therapeutic support.
Founded by Jamie Nelson, owner of 1Up Games, and Eugene Milbrodt, this was the third charity tournament and gaming event hosted by NES Trail, which raises money for local charities and helps preserve gaming history.
Using a huge, high-definition projector as the main tournament screen and a large flat screen for the second chance bracket, Nelson and Milbrodt also set up 15 other televisions with 15 different gaming consoles that were free to play to showcase well-known classics like “Super Mario Bros.” and “Sonic the Hedgehog,” as well as rare and lesser-known games from their personal collections and the inventory of 1Up Games.
Over 100 people attended the event, with 60 gamers entertaining the tournament, raising $992 through entry fees and raffles for baskets donated by 1Up Games, Go Left! Records, Gerrity’s Supermarket, Wayne’s World, and Shedd Shirts. Prizes included custom “Super Smash Bros.” trophies and framed custom “Super Smash Bros.” lithographs created and donated by Wilkes-Barre graphic artist Jesse Musto.
The next “Super Smash Bros.” Wii U tournament is set for Feb. 28 at noon at the Forty Fort municipal building (1271 Wyoming Ave., Kingston), with all proceeds benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge in Wilkes-Barre. The entry fee will be $8 in advance or $11 at the door. Gamers can register in advance at 1Up Games (129 Welles St., Forty Fort). Those who bring a nonperishable or canned food item to the tournament for St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre will receive $1 off the entry fee.
For more information, visit the NES Trail Facebook page.
Courtesy photo, front row, from left: Amelia Nesgoda (WVCA student), Alex Ballanca (WVCA student), and Sophia Nesgoda (WVCA student). Back row, from left: Jason Crandall (WVCA employee), Kathleen Williams (WVCA executive director), Jamie Nelson (1Up Games/NES Trail), and Eugene Milbrodt (NES Trail).
