Give Camp launches its third year in Cleveland this weekend, helping 24 nonprofit organizations develop websites, web-based applications, mobile apps, databases and all that is technical in a three-day whirlwind event at Lean Dog Software and Burke Lakefront Airport.

During the weekend, technology professionals, developers, designers, database administrators, marketing professionals and others donate their time to help area nonprofit organizations with a wide range of projects.

Give Camp began in 2007 as an idea by a Miscosoft executive as a way to give back to local charities in Dallas. Cleveland Give Camp has grown each year.

“The fact that we’re popular is one of the challenges we’ve had this year,” says spokesperson Amy Wong. “It was so great the last two years, people really want to be involved with the event.”

Last year's camp was valued at $500,000 and year one was valued at $250,000 worth of work performed.

Wong expects more than 200 people to turn out this weekend. Part of the reason Give Camp has grown in popularity is the fact that it’s a great opportunity to network. “There are so many diverse people, which is why it’s a great networking event,” explains Wong. “Companies come down as a team, independent tech geeks come down because they want to be a part of something cool.”

Organizers look at need, budget, and scope of the project in selecting the organizations they help. This year, Give Camp Cleveland is one of the beneficiaries. “We’re project number 25,” Wong says. “We need a new website. We joke we’re the cobbler who doesn’t have his own shoes.”

Source: Amy Wong
Writer: Karin Connelly