“Hackathon for Good” Benefits Chicagoland Nonprofit

• A hackathon brings tech teams together to create a solution for a specific challenge. During 36 hours in June, seven teams of software developers, data architects/scientists, user experience designers, and others gathered virtually in Chicago. Their charge was to ideate, build, and create a technical solution. The twist was instead of a typical business solution, they were designing for a local charity.

State Farm and 1871, a Chicago-based non-profit that supports entrepreneurs, teamed up to sponsor and organize the “Hackathon for Good.” The event benefited the technical needs of True Star Foundation, a Chicagoland youth non-profit. 

“The Hackathon for Good gave us a glimpse into the future. It provided technology solutions that allow the organization to operate at a higher level, engage youth in ways that excite and inspire them, and allow us to reach more young people in a cost effective way,” said True Star Foundation Co-Founder DeAnna Sherman.

True Star's weekly after-school, in-school and summer programming teaches students about a variety of disciplines in the media industry. Students not only learn about the profession, they actually work cooperatively to produce professional-quality work in each area.

The hackathon teams provided True Star with several technical solutions. These included digitizing its curriculum, helping its students create digital portfolios, and providing the organization with a blueprint for a mobile app that will extend their reach and mission.

It’s all part of a commitment to build a better future for our communities through innovation.

“State Farm believes in supporting our communities, in being a Good Neighbor. We were excited to be part of the Hackathon for Good with 1871 and to support True Star Foundation,” said Fawad Ahmad, State Farm Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer. “It was a great opportunity to observe innovative ideas that will ultimately benefit the students True Star serves.”

“At 1871, we support innovators that are building a better tomorrow for their communities,” said 1871 CEO Betsy Ziegler. “Organizations like the True Star Foundation are doing the necessary, on-the-ground work to empower youth in Chicago to lead. We were proud to join our longtime and dedicated partner State Farm to create technical solutions for this important non-profit.”