About the Challenge
About the Event
When it comes to websites and technology that can improve outreach and increase donations, many non-profits are lagging far behind. Thus was born the F1 Overnight Website Challenge presented by VISI.
Beginning the morning of March 1, 2008 and concluding the next day, the F1 Overnight Website Challenge provided a fun forum to highlight creative ways for non-profits to strategically use web technology to accomplish their missions.
The event brought a party atmosphere, friendly competition, reality show flair, and most importantly, a sense of immediacy to the concept of in-kind philanthropy in our local web development community.
Selected Non-Profits
The judges considered 33 qualified Minnesota non-profits. Each 501c3 organization completed an application detailing how a new website would help them accomplish their mission. And then there were 11, and here they are:
- Altered Esthetics
- Doorstep Healthcare Services
- Families Moving Forward
- Hope Chest for Breast Cancer
- Kairos Dance Theatre
- Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly
- Metro Meals on Wheels
- Rebuild Resources, Inc.-
- Riverview Economic Development Association
- Twin Cities RISE!-
- Wingspan Life Resources
Non-profits were selected based on the case they made for themselves — and their web needs, as stated in their application. Selection judges also considered online testimonials posted on behalf of non-profits.
Here Come the Judges
- Christine Durand, Director of Communications for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits
- Jan Finken, President, IQ Marketing
- Patty Henderson, Interactive Director at Colle+McVoy.
- Robert Stephens, Founder of The Geek Squad
Eleven Teams, All In
From a space and resource standpoint, Sierra Bravo initially capped our friendly competition at ten teams of web pros serving ten worthy non-profits. Then — driven by overwhelming volunteer response — we decided to go to 11. Just couldn’t resist.
Each team has eight professionals donating their time and talent for a solid day and night, so each non-profit is getting nearly 200 hours of pro bono work. Who are these people? Check out the team pages at here
In the Dark Until the Big Day
Non-profit reps did not meet their development team — or even know who they are — until they meet on event day. They became fairly well-acquainted over the following 24 hours.
Sponsors
Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor VISI for their support of the event, as well as Supporting Sponsor New Horizons of Minnesota. Thanks to Red Bull Energy Drink and Peace Coffee for their generous pledges to provide beverages. We thank Buffalo Wild Wings for donating Saturday’s lunch, featuring a Guitar Hero competition. Thanks also to Chipotle Mexican Grill for donating dinner. IQ Marketing sponsored Sunday’s lunch.
About Sierra Bravo
Founded in 2003 by three innovative programmers, Sierra Bravo has grown to nearly 50 people by helping companies strengthen their business through technical solutions. We build websites designed to help companies turn online visitors into customers. We help companies preserve their investment by extending the vitality of legacy systems by giving them real world functionality. We partner with ad agencies to add valuable online functionality to their creative web design concepts. Learn more at www.sierra-bravo.com
Calendar and Event Day Timeline
Event Day Timeline, Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2
- 7:30 a.m. — Registration, breakfast served
- 8:30 a.m. — Welcome remarks by Sierra Bravo and sponsor(s)
- 9:00 a.m. — Teams meet together for the first time to discuss the mission and objectives of their non-profit, as well as desired functionality of the new website
- 10:00 a.m. — Begin programming and countdown begins
- 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Lunch served, Guitar Hero Challenge
- 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. — Dinner served
- 12:00 a.m. — Midnight snack and another fun challenge (TBD)
- 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. — Breakfast
- 12:00 p.m. — Programming stops, judging begins
- 12:30 p.m. — Lunch served
- 1:00 p.m. — Presentations by groups, web demo of their work. This will be the final thing they will be judged on. Judges will have had two previous touch points with each team, including once at the very beginning and again circa what would be considered “bedtime” for the outside world. Winner announced. Closing remarks. Good night and good luck.
The Location
The event took place at the Continuing Education Conference Center, located on the St. Paul Campus of the University of Minnesota: 1890 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108.
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