After over a decade of charitable efforts, the NOVA Open Charitable Foundation (NOCF) is officially closing its doors in 2025.
NOCF has raised over $885,000 for various charities, including the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, and Fisher House Foundation. Their efforts have been instrumental in supporting causes such as humanitarian relief, children’s needs, military veterans, and medical research, fostering resilience and hope worldwide.
Founded in 2013 as an offshoot of the NOVA Open, NOCF became a major player in the gaming community’s charitable efforts, thanks to its commitment to harnessing the creative energy of the tabletop gaming community. Through collaborations with artists and YouTube personalities, NOCF raised funds via raffles featuring stunning, one-of-a-kind miniature prizes. The Artist Consortium, with nearly 200 talented artists, was a cornerstone of NOCF, producing team-built armies, dioramas, and individual miniatures to support fundraising campaigns.
The foundation’s success is credited to its dedicated volunteers and supporters, with Laurie Brandt, NOCF’s founder, expressing immense gratitude for the relationships and impact created over the years. Despite NOCF’s closure, its legacy of generosity will live on in the gaming community, with NOCF’s work inspiring others to run their own charitable events.
While NOCF officially shuts down operations, NOVA Open will continue to carry forward its tradition of giving. In 2024 alone, NOVA Open donated over $70,000, including $4.7k to NOCF, and will keep supporting charity efforts at future events. As NOCF wraps up its mission, its remaining assets will be distributed equally to its core charities by December 1, 2025.
In their closing statement, Gary Krieger, NOCF’s vice-president, reflected on the foundation’s influence, stating that the groundwork laid by NOCF would continue to inspire future charitable endeavors in the community.
NOCF’s final year will involve completing the dissolution process, but they remain available for support. The foundation’s team, including Laurie, Gary, and Sean, leaves behind a legacy of compassion, community-building, and tireless volunteerism.
The tabletop community will always remember NOCF’s incredible impact, and NOVA Open looks forward to continuing their charitable mission in the years ahead.
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