GRAND RAPIDS – Local technology and design professionals will partner on the weekend of November 3 to provide West Michigan non-profit groups with hundreds of hours of software, design, database and web development services for free.
Weekend for Good represents a first-time collaboration between Grand Rapids-based nonprofits, Code for Good, Grand Rapids GiveCamp and The American Institute of Graphic Artists: West Michigan. This year’s event will be held at Start Garden, a downtown business accelerator created by Amway heir Rick DeVos. Deadlines to apply or volunteer are Oct. 6 and 13, respectively.
“At GR GiveCamp, our volunteers have impacted the lives of many in Grand Rapids over the last nine years,” said Josh Yuhas, Code for Good president. “They sacrifice their weekend for the greater good of those in need. It’s a beautiful thing. Now our evolution into Code for Good has allowed us to grow that journey with partners like the AIGA WM to help non-profits achieve their missions easier with tools custom tailored for their needs.”
In 2016, GiveCamp had 143 volunteers, who devoted 2,400 hours, that benefited 15 non-profit agencies, and produced solutions worth more than $180,000. This year, more than a hundred volunteers will take on software, design, web, database and other similar projects, saving the nonprofits tens of thousands of dollars, often offering these organizations services they could not afford otherwise.
Last year, the executive director for the Harbor Humane Society, Jennifer Self-Aulgur, said she realized that the Society needed an updated look to improve its “stickiness” and value to its audience. Without a dedicated IT staff to support them, the Society was ill-equipped for the task. She applied to GiveCamp.
Jennifer said she was nervous at first to hand the project off, likening the experience to visiting a car mechanic.
“Coming to GiveCamp, I know that these people here are dedicated and that they are going to provide the best product that they can. And the fact that they’re doing it for free is absolutely amazing.” Jennifer’s organization is one of dozens that have benefitted in past years.
Weekend for Good is volunteer-run and looking for both technical and non-technical volunteers. Technical volunteers include people with developer, database, design and website skills.
Non-profit Agencies in need of help managing databases, integrating web portals, developing outreach strategies, and design solutions can apply online by Oct. 6.
Volunteers must apply online by Oct. 13.
For more information, visit: www.grgivecamp.org
For more information: [email protected]
