Nick's Power of Play

A nonprofit dedicated to bringing smiles to children facing serious illness

"Bring a smile to someone's face that hasn't had a real reason to smile in a long time."

Nick Priest, Founder
$2,300+
Raised through NPOP events
70+
Participants in the Fortnite Tournament
3+
Hospitals supported
Gaming setup with colorful lighting

Gaming isn't just entertainment. For kids fighting serious illness, it's connection, escape, and a reason to smile.

What Is NPOP?

Founded in 2019, Nick's Power of Play started by connecting with children battling illness through the power of gaming. Today it continues through annual fundraising tournaments for hospital Child Life programs.

Gaming With Purpose
Video games are more than entertainment. Research shows they improve outcomes in psychological therapy, physical therapy, and pain distraction in clinical settings. Read the study.
Supporting Child Life
NPOP raises money for the Child Life programs at children's hospitals, including most recently Boston Children's Hospital, supporting the kids and families who need it most.
For the Kids
Children battling illness, or whose loved ones are battling illness, often face long stretches of isolation. NPOP shows up to play, giving kids a break from what they are going through.

Join the 2026 March Madness Tournament

The bracket goes live on Selection Sunday. Donate $10 to enter. All proceeds benefit Boston Children's Hospital's Child Life Program.

Join the ESPN Bracket →

Our Story

A journey from grief to purpose, built on the love of a father, the power of play, and the desire to be there for others.

Where It All Began

Nick Priest grew up playing video games with his dad. Those sessions were about bonding, laughing, and being present with each other. When Nick's dad was diagnosed with an aggressive form of head and neck cancer, the controller became a lifeline. Even as his health declined, father and son kept playing.

Nick and his dad gaming together

Nick and his dad gaming together.

Nick's dad passed away when Nick was just six years old. His final words to his son — "Don't just accept your fate. Decide your fate" — left a lasting impression. People around Nick made sure he could still find joy in gaming after losing his dad, and that made all the difference.

The Lemonade Stands

After hearing a story in school about a young girl who started a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research, Nick brought the idea home to his family. They set up their own stand in honor of his dad, who was battling cancer at the time. The family has held one every year on his dad's birthday since 2009, raising over $34,000 for childhood cancer research. Nick even drew inspiration from that story when naming his own foundation.

Founding Nick's Power of Play

In 2019, Nick founded Nick's Power of Play (NPOP) to pair teen volunteers with kids battling serious illness, and kids whose loved ones are battling illness, to play video games together.

Research backs the approach. A peer-reviewed study found that video games improved outcomes in 69% of psychological therapy cases and 59% of physical therapy cases across 38 clinical trials. Read the study.

In February 2020, NPOP made its first hospital visit to Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. When COVID-19 shut down in-person visits shortly after, NPOP moved to remote gaming sessions.

Nick donating 2 PlayStations outside the hospital

Nick donating 2 PlayStations outside Nemours Children's Hospital.

"When you hop on with me, it's not going to be about that at all. It's going to be, 'Alright, let's build this huge house in Minecraft.' Just to help them forget about it for a while."

Nick Priest

NPOP Today

NPOP now focuses on fundraising for the Child Life programs of children's hospitals. Through annual March Madness bracket tournaments and other events, Nick continues to raise money and awareness, donating to Nemours Children's Hospital in the early years and most recently to Boston Children's Hospital for three consecutive years.

Founded 2019

Nick's Power of Play was founded in 2019, when Nick was 16 years old.

First Hospital Visit

February 2020 at Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. NPOP's first in-person gaming session with kids in treatment.

COVID Pivot

When the pandemic hit, NPOP moved entirely to remote gaming. One of Nick's biggest goals became spreading the word to hospitals around the country.

Fundraising Tournaments

From a Disney/Pixar bracket in 2020 to a 70+ person Fortnite tournament and annual March Madness challenges, NPOP has raised over $2,300 for hospital Child Life programs.

The Heart Behind It

"I would have loved to have had a teenage boy to play Mario with after my dad passed. That's what I'm trying to provide to these kids." - Nick Priest

Our Journey

NPOP Personal Milestones Ongoing / Upcoming
2009
Personal
Nick's Father Passes Away
Nick's dad passes away from cancer when Nick is six years old. The family begins holding an annual lemonade stand on his dad's birthday, raising over $34,000 for childhood cancer research since 2009.
2019
NPOP
Nick's Power of Play Is Founded
At 16, Nick officially founds Nick's Power of Play (NPOP), pairing teen volunteers with children battling illness, or whose loved ones are battling illness, to play video games together.
February 2020
NPOP
First Hospital Visit: Nemours Children's Hospital
NPOP makes its first in-person hospital visit to Nemours Children's Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Nick and volunteers game alongside kids in treatment.
March 2020
NPOP
COVID-19: Adapting to Remote Play
In-person visits are shut down by COVID-19. NPOP moves to remote gaming sessions and Nick begins working to spread the word to hospitals around the country.
2020
NPOP
First NPOP Fundraiser: Disney/Pixar March Madness Bracket
With NCAA March Madness cancelled, Nick runs a Disney/Pixar movie bracket tournament. Seeding was weighted (the #1 seed gets 16 slots, the #16 seed gets 1) with winners determined by a wheel spin. Raised approximately $300, donated to Nemours Children's Hospital.
January 2022
NPOP
NPOP Fortnite Tournament: 70+ Participants
Nick organizes a Fortnite tournament through his high school during his senior year. Over 70 students participate, raising over $1,000.
2023 – 2025
NPOP
Annual NPOP March Madness Tournaments: Boston Children's Hospital
NPOP runs an annual ESPN March Madness bracket challenge, $10 per entry. Over three years the tournaments raise over $800 combined, donated to the Child Life Program at Boston Children's Hospital.
Present
Ongoing
NPOP Continues
NPOP continues through annual tournaments and word-of-mouth fundraising, supporting Child Life programs at children's hospitals.
March 2026
Coming Up!
2026 NPOP March Madness Tournament
The bracket goes live on Selection Sunday! Donate $10 to join the tournament. All proceeds benefit Boston Children's Hospital's Child Life Program. Reach out at nickpriest18@gmail.com or Venmo @nick-priest-0 to get in. Join the ESPN bracket here.

Press & Media

Nick's story has been covered by outlets near and far. Here's what others have said about Nick's Power of Play.

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
"The Greatest Lesson I've Learned Is That You've Always Got to Keep Fighting"
ALSF spotlights Nick's journey from his first lemonade stand at age four to founding NPOP and his vision of expanding the organization nationwide.
2021  ·  Read article
Delaware Online
Local Teen Helps Sick Children, Finds Healing Through Video Games
Delaware Online covered Nick's story of turning personal loss into a mission of connection, using the power of video games to reach kids who are isolated by illness.
2021  ·  Read article
Good News Network
A High School Senior Started a Nonprofit to Play Video Games with Sick Kids, in Honor of His Original Gaming Partner: His Dad
Nick Priest inherited his love of video games from his dad, who passed away when Nick was six. That experience led him to found "Nick's Power of Play," where he and volunteers game with kids in hospitals.
2021  ·  Read article
My Silver Lining Podcast
Gaming for Good: Nick Priest on How Losing His Dad Inspired Nick's Power of Play
Nick joined the My Silver Lining podcast to talk about NPOP, the role gaming played in his relationship with his father, and his mission to connect volunteer gamers with young patients battling serious illness.
2022  ·  Listen to episode
WDEL
A Good Distraction: After Losing His Dad, Salesianum Senior Starts Program to Game with Sick Kids
WDEL covered Nick's story ahead of his senior year at Salesianum, exploring how the loss of his father and his love of gaming came together in the founding of NPOP.
2021  ·  Read article

Media Inquiries

Interested in covering Nick's Power of Play? We'd love to connect.

nickpriest18@gmail.com