70 Local Software Developers Create Websites for Non-Profits
Volunteers Donate Their Time for a 48-Hour Coding Marathon to Build Charities New Web Sites
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (August 31, 2011) Starting today, Indy GiveCamp is now accepting proposals from local charities for pro-bono software projects. Indy GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where software developers, designers, and database administrators donate their time to create custom software for non-profit organizations. This custom software could be a new website to broadcast the organization’s mission, keep track of member information, or a communication tool. The only limitation for a project is that it must be scoped to be completed in a weekend.
Last year, 9 charities received approximately $150,000 in web design and consulting services. 2010’s weekend host, Jay Harris of Ann Arbor, MI, will be again returning to Indianapolis for 2011. “The success of last year’s event will help us provide more assistance to even more charities”, said Harris. “Our charities included everything from small neighborhood clinics to international assistance charities.” “Add in a large room full of eager and talented web developers and the impact is unimaginable.”
Prospective charities are small to medium groups without the technical capabilities or resources to establish new systems or maintain antiquated systems. Indy GiveCamp pairs charities with 3-8 industry experts.
Jeri Warner, Executive Director of Trusted Mentors, said of the event, “I attended the weekend and found it to be enjoyable, and necessary to provide needed information. The time was well worth it! Because of the database, we have reduced the time necessary to produce reports. With a staff of 3, this is an important change.”
NuAfrica’s Mala Steffen was pleased to report, “The site helped our charity connect with volunteers, donors, and many others who were simply curious about what we do. The site also assisted in connecting NuAfrica with the First Lady of Mali, Africa, allowing for the start of collaborative efforts to bring water and education to an entire impoverished country.”
Charities are invited to apply on Indy GiveCamp’s web site at www.indygivecamp.org. Individuals wanting to help volunteer their technical knowledge are encouraged to register at the site listed above. The event will take place at MID Technologies on October 14th-16th near 96th and Keystone.
About Indy GiveCamp
Indy GiveCamp is the local “chapter” of a nationwide chain of philanthropic software programming events. After 70+ developers helped 9 charities in 2010, the organizers for 2011 are expecting to increase the number of selected charities dramatically. The first GiveCamp started in Dallas in 2007 leading to 30+ similar events all across the country. Information on the weekend’s events, sponsorship opportunities, charity information, and application process can be found at www.indygivecamp.org. Questions or comments can be sent to info@indygivecamp.org. Media requests may contact Craig Kelker at 317-903-0539 or ckelker@indygivecamp.org.
About Trusted Mentors
Since 2003, Trusted Mentors has provided over 125 volunteer mentors to adults referred by homeless prevention agencies. Building on its success, it has expanded its mission to include other populations at risk of becoming homeless, including low wage earners, ex-offenders, and young adults aging out of foster care. No other agency in Indianapolis provides this service. They can be found at www.trustedmentors.org.
About NuAfrica
NuAfrica is a non-profit humanitarian volunteer organization founded in 2008 by a small group of Americans who share a common goal: reducing inequity. Witnessing extreme poverty earlier in life equipped these individuals with the desire to help underserved impoverished communities of the world. For more information please visit www.nuafrica.org
Six Non-Profits Selected
We have gone over all the proposed projects, looked at our current volunteer numbers, and have committed to the following six local organizations:
My Sister’s Place, VSA Indiana, Women in Insurance and Financial Services, Lillian Davis Foundation, Child Advocates, Inc, and Heart in Education Teacher Outreach.
We are very excited to help these great non-profits this year, and we would love your participation as well. If you’re a developer, designer, or dba and would like to help give back to your community, please sign up to be a volunteer.
2010 Projects
Non-Profits Assisted by Indy GiveCamp 2010
Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY)
MCCOY champions the positive development of youth through leadership on key issues and support of the youth worker community. Established as an independent not-for-profit organization in 1993 after several years in city-county government, MCCOY serves as the catalyst for positive youth development, working with youth serving agencies, youth workers and the entire community to make sure that every young person has access to the supports, opportunities and experiences necessary to become a positve, productive and contributing adult.
The Haven Youth Center
The Haven is a non-for-profit drop-in youth center located in Martinsville, Indiana. They cater to middle and high school aged youth. The center is open for middle school youth right after school and for high school youth on Friday nights. They provide a safe place for youth to hang out with their friends while offering various programs throughout the year. They offer drug, alcohol, and tobacco prevention programs a couple of times each year. The Haven’s main goal is to simply give youth an alternative to going home to an empty house where temptations may lurk. They encourage youth to be the best they can be, and offer some incredible adult mentors to be readily available for the youth to play games with or talk if they need to.
Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County
The Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County, founded in 1985, is a non-profit organization whose Mission is to support and empower older adults to have enriched lives while maintaining independent lifestyles. The Shepherd’s Center of Hamilton County is a affiliate of the Shepherd’s Center of America which was founded by Dr. Elbert Cole in 1975. We fulfill our Mission through two primary programs: Community Caring and Together Today. Through Community Caring, volunteers are matched with homebound and isolated seniors (65 years and over), to provide FREE services so that the seniors can live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. (Services include friendly visitors, home repair, house cleaning, yard work, and more). We reach those people who are financially fragile, physically/mentally impaired and who have few options for assistance. Through Together Today, seniors 55 and older get together on a regular basis for fellowship and to engage in fun, educational, and healthy activities. This program allows seniors to meet with friends new and old on a regular basis, and to look forward to participating in activities every week. For more information and/or to check our website, please visit www.shepherdscenterofhamiltoncounty.org.
NuAfrica, Inc.
We provide water and education to the impoverished. Our serving started in 2008 in Mali, West Africa, the 3rd poorest country in the world. On 1/1/10, we dug a solar-powered well for 3,000 people who’s nearest access to clean water was previously a 7 mile walk. Our annual fundraiser, Drill4Water, is a tennis gathering at Carmel Racquet Club, where we raise money with volunteer pros drilling players on donated courts, serve dinner, and hold a silent auction. Each May, we also do a “locker clean-out,” at Carmel High School. We take our children’s basically new pencils, pens, spiral notebooks and transport them to Mali village children who have no supplies at school. Finally, we collect agricultural supplies (seeds & tools) from Brebeuf Jesuit soccer families and transport them to Mali as well.
Northside Twins & Multiples
Northside Twins & Multiples (Formerly Charter Chapter Mother of Twins Club) is an non-profit organization with over 120 members. We offer monthly support groups, semi-annual clothing and equipment sales, educational/social activities, and many other club benefits. We believe the best advice on raising multiples comes from those members who have already lived the experience. We are committed to service projects in the community and have sponsored park-clean-ups, holiday giving projects, baskets for premature babies and charity walks.
The Tina Marie Arens Foundation
“Helping Single Mothers in Need.” The Tina Marie Arens Foundation is a nonprofit organization providing counseling, education and financial assistance for single mothers, giving them a chance to fight against addiction and it’s threat to the health and wellfare of their children. Through outreach and consultation, we also seek to educate the community about the issues of alcoholism and addiction and its impact on all our lives. Our programs and services are designed to contribute to a significant reduction in the legacy affect of addiction and to help break the intergenerational cycle of substance abuse.
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
The Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic (the Clinic) promotes justice through both legal representation and preventive law education to Indianapolis’ low-income population. Since opening its doors in 1994, clients whose income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level have received critically-needed legal services regardless of religious affiliation. The Clinic has a broad civil practice representing low-income clients in the areas of family law, immigration, wills and estates, housing, landlord/tenant disputes, debt and bankruptcy, tax controversies, and other civil areas. In addition to legal representation, the Clinic also regularly hosts preventive legal education workshops and provides printed materials in English, Spanish, and two Burmese dialects to increase awareness of the legal rights and responsibilities of low-income families and individuals. Currently, the Clinic operates eleven (11) neighborhood-based intake sites throughout the Indianapolis area to ensure services are convenient and accessible to low-income residents. Furthermore, the Clinic collaborates with other local non-profit organizations—including local homeless shelters, Latino-multi-service centers, and domestic violence programs—to make critically-needed legal services more accessible to low-income individuals.
Autism Advocates of Indiana
The mission of Autism Advocates of Indiana (AAI) is to increase and broaden public knowledge and awareness of the behaviors, social issues and emotional needs of individuals on the autism spectrum so that all individuals can participate in and contribute to our community without fear of bias or loss of individuality. We carry out our mission through funds from the annual “Answers for Autism Walk” and contributions from private organizations. It is our intention to use the proceeds from this event to promote the advancement of autism research and provide grants for programs in Indiana that serve individuals on the autism spectrum and increase public awareness. Proceeds from the Answers for Autism Walk will help Indiana families touched by autism in many ways. Since 2001, Autism Advocates of Indiana has been able to contribute $205,000 to national research, $260,347 in grants to community organizations across Indiana that provide programming or supports for individuals with autism. Currently, 1 in every 110 or 1% of American children has a diagnosis of autism, including 1 in 70 boys. There is no cure for Autism. Though various treatments and therapies may provide some children with advancements, research and programming are limited due to lack of available funds.
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