NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Fran Eastwood
www.AZGiveCamp.org
623-252-GIVE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2011 (Phoenix, AZ) - When Software Developers Gary Hoffman and Barry Stahl accompanied their colleagues to rebuild a damaged home, it did not take long to figure out that home building was not the best use of their skills. "It is noble work and we wanted to help our neighbors," Hoffman said, "but it was clear by our resulting aches and pains that we would be more helpful behind a keyboard than a hammer."
The answer to their dilemma came in the form of GiveCamp, a weekend event created by Microsoft tech evangelist Chris Koenig in 2007 in Dallas, Texas. "GiveCamp brings together non-profit organizations iand developers," Hoffman explained. "All over the country, volunteers were getting together to help their local charities. We wanted to be a part of that here in Arizona."
The creators of AZGiveCamp held their first event in May of 2010. More than 60 technologists developed over $100,000 worth of websites and applications for nine local charities including: the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Central Schools Project; For Our City, Chandler; Treasures 4 Teachers and Native Health.
Stahl said he enjoyed watching the event grow as more and more of his colleagues learned of the opportunity. "We give a weekend of our time doing what we are best at and the non-profits get bleeding edge web solutions they wouldn't be able to otherwise afford."
Phoenix is one of the sixteen locations hosting a National GiveCamp weekend October 21-23, 2011 in the CoreLink suites at Park Central Mall.
During the weekend-long National GiveCamp, teams of designers, developers and database administrators will donate their time to complete an IT project on a charity’s wish list. The participating charities would probably not have the financial or staffing means to complete these projects otherwise but they enable the charities to better reach the communities they serve.
"Microsoft is thrilled to help out with National GiveCamp," says Mary Perisic, National GiveCamp Lead and a Microsoft employee. "The volunteers tell us this event is one of the most rewarding and fun challenges they take on all year. The charities are excited to have their IT projects completed."
Arizona sponsors include CoreLink, Volt, Neudesic and Park Central Mall, where AZGiveCamp is being held.
This year’s Arizona event will help the following charities: Challenger Space Center Arizona, Matthew’s Crossing, Phoenix Women’s Sports Association, Arizona Dental Foundation, North American Quitline Consortium, Parenting Arizona, AZ Assist, Gabriel Villa Memorial Scholarship, Family Services Agency, Special Needs Stop and The Action Foundation.
The 16 locations are: Tampa Bay, FL; Nashville, TN; Baltimore, MD; Seattle, WA; Charlotte, NC; Cincinnati, OH; Dallas, TX; Deerfield Beach, FL; Memphis, TN; Johnson City, TN; Orlando, FL; St Louis, MO; Colorado Springs, CO; Grand Rapids, MI; London, UK and here in Phoenix.
Visit http://bit.ly/h9eHtM for more information. Contact Fran Eastwood at azgivecamp@copperbyte.com or 623-252-GIVE for additional quotes or to arrange interviews with volunteers or charity representatives.
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