A few weeks ago, Facebook Gaming creator Josh “DiMez” DiMezza was wrapping up a charity livestream with St.Jude Children’s Research Hospital in New York. Just shy of the $15K goal for the event—the total stood at $13,609—DiMezza was thanking his viewers for tuning in when his jaw suddenly dropped; a viewer had slipped in a last-minute donation taking the grand total to $15,109. The DiMez Gaming community had achieved its goal for St. Jude’s in about 90 minutes.
“That just gave me a surreal type of vibe,” says DiMezza shortly before ending the stream. “I am so thankful for this.” As a cancer survivor himself, DiMezza’s work with Facebook Gaming and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital is part of a deeply personal mission to give back and help young people affected by cancer. “I was diagnosed at 19,” says DiMezza. “I know how it feels to be in that situation, whether it’s because of finances or having family go through the process.”