Meet Caleb Wiles, Magician and Extra Life Fundraiser

Many ways exist to fundraise for Riley Children’s Foundation, but magician Caleb Wiles was especially drawn to doing so through Extra Life, a program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Caleb first discovered Extra Life years ago at Gen Con, an annual gaming convention held in Indianapolis. Since 2022, he’s combined his love of magic and gaming to host a live magic show at Gen Con, with all proceeds benefiting Riley Children’s Foundation.

Extra Life fundraises year-round, encouraging people to play whenever and however they want, with all donations going back to their local CMN hospital. Riley Children’s Health is the only CMN hospital in Indiana.

“I liked what Extra Life was doing,” Caleb said. “I signed up, and it was so easy. I liked the ease of use of the platform, everybody can track, and it sort of has a gamification.”

Caleb performs this special show through his nonprofit, Magic for a Cause, which he founded in 2020 with a mission to use magic to make the world a better place. Since then, he’s raised over $10,000 for Riley through his shows at Gen Con.

“When I do these shows, more people will tell me about what they went through as a kid or what’s going on, and you just would never know it,” Caleb said. “Everybody always has stuff going on, and you never know what that person’s thing is.”

A father of two and former schoolteacher, Caleb has always had a heart for kids. Though not at Riley Hospital for Children, Caleb’s connection deepened when his own son spent time in the NICU after birth.

“Being in that situation and how stressful that was, that was just a small taste of a health issue with a kid,” Caleb said. Experiences like this are why he has been motivated to support Riley and encourage others to donate as well. “Everybody’s on board for helping kids.”

This Saturday, August 2, Caleb will take the stage at Gen Con for his fourth annual Extra Life magic show. The hour-long performance will feature comedy and audience interaction but mostly will be some of his most impossible magic. This show will be in front of 400 people, his biggest show for Extra Life yet.

Tickets are available now. You can also visit Caleb’s Extra Life fundraising page to donate.