The weekend of October 21-23 was a busy one at The Geek Group Leonard Street Labs. Information Technology specialists donated 3 days of their time to help Non-profits complete projects. GPNA was one of the non-profits chosen for this event. The main effort accomplished for GPNA was a new website, implementing a content management system that simplifies mass-emails to our residents, volunteer and other online sign-up forms. Besides providing a Great Looking Website, the effort will save significant time for the staff at GPNA.  We want to recognized GiveCamp and all of the volunteers for working hard to help GPNA and 13 other non-profits.  It was a long weekend but also lots of fun!

The picture shows our volunteers, Ross Hunter, Taylor VandenHoek, Margaret O'Donnell, Jonathan Pichot(not pictured).

About GiveCamp: GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where technology professionals – from designers, developers and database administrators to marketers and web strategists – donate their time to provide solutions for non-profit organizations. Some organizations may need a new website or a renewal of an old one. For others, GiveCamp helps them make the leap from Excel spreadsheets to true donor databases. And for still others, this is an opportunity to think strategically, with the help of a consultant, about their social media presence or e-mail marketing. This is about matching the needs of non-profits with the talent of our local technology-loving community.

Any 501(3) can apply to participate in GiveCamp. Accepted non-profits will be matched with a project liaison prior to GiveCamp who will help them shape their project and answer any critical questions to ensure the weekend is a success.

For volunteers, GiveCamp provides a unique opportunity to connect with the local tech community. A typical GiveCamp draws 75 to 100 volunteers. Individuals can work with their colleagues in company teams, or they can opt to be matched with fellow volunteers who have complementary skill sets.

About The Geek Group:  The Geek Group is a federally certified 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on science, technology, engineering, math, and arts education. We take “hands-on” to a level never before seen anywhere in the world. We are not a school in the traditional sense, we are not a museum, and we are not a university, but we incorporate aspects of all of those environments into our facility.

Imagine if you could go to the workshop of the Mythbusters and hang out as one of the gang. Or what it would be like at spend your free time working in Bill Nye’s labs, or hang out with Mr. Wizard. That is what the Geek Group is for. Instead of being just a face on a television, we are a real brick and mortar facility with all of the equipment, labs, and tools that most people only see on television. This is a place where you can not only get up close and see giant robots, lightning machines, lasers and all other manner of science and research equipment, but you can pick it up, touch it, use it, explore it and build your own projects.