FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sierra Bravo Overnight Website Challenge Champs: Praxis and District 202

Honorable mention to 120 web pros for donating about $300,000 worth of professional services to 12 nonprofits in 24 hours

MINNEAPOLIS, March 3, 2009 — A dozen Minnesota nonprofits and 120 web nerds worked well into the wee hours on 12 new websites built during the otherwise lost weekend of Sierra Bravo’s Overnight Website Challenge.

“District 202 headed into this crazy all-nighter hoping to get a better looking website that our youth could easily update,” said Curt Prins, board chair of District 202. “What we got instead was a visually impressive, easy-to-manage tool that allows us to evolve from a strict bricks-and mortar nonprofit into an Internet-driven organization that empowers GLBT youth. I’m not sure our team fully understands the tremendous shift that they enabled in just 24 hours, but it’s the greatest donation that we’ve received in our 16 years.”

“This is my second year participating and I knew the competition would be the best web-dev talent in Minneapolis. I had to recruit the best,” said Praxis team captain/Colle+McVoy Technology Lead Jason Striegel, who invited six agency colleagues and three of his most trusted web nerd associates, two of them from Sierra Bravo. “

“I’ve trusted Sierra Bravo with a number of difficult projects, so I knew they’d be an important part of the Team Praxis winning equation,” added Striegel. “We come away from this year’s event with a trophy, yes, but also humbled at the awesomeness of Minneapolis’ web development and nonprofit communities. We’re honored to work with District 202 in launching their new site, and appreciate Sierra Bravo’s leadership in making this event happen.”

More nonprofits now with nerd-powered websites: Access Press; Athletes Committed to Educating Students; Battered Women’s Legal Advocacy Project; Caring for Kids Initiative; Friends of Fort Snelling; Global Citizens Network; Hopkins Minnetonka Family Resource Center; Karen Wyckoff Rein In Sarcoma Foundation; Resource Center of the Americas; Students Today, Leaders Forever; and YEA Corps.

When Sierra Bravo isn’t just giving it away, the Twin Cities-based web development company partners with ad, design and marketing agencies nationwide to execute the interactive projects of their clients.

These judges picked 12 nonprofits for the Sierra Bravo’s Overnight Website Challenge — and chose Praxis as team with the most remarkable 24-hour accomplishments: Christine Durand, Communication Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; Dan Grigsby, founder of multiple startups and tech community organizer; and Robert Stephens, Founder, Geek Squad; Chris Wiggins, Creative Director, Fallon.

These 12 teams competed for bragging rights. Each nonprofit got more than 200 hours of professional services — all donated by programmers from Sierra Bravo and the web development community at large, including interactive talent from Colle+McVoy, FindLaw, Inetium, Internet Broadcasting, Minnesota Council on Foundations, VISI and Zeus Jones.

“Every party — and every person — involved in this event shows up to simply do what they do best — particularly the nonprofits,” said Sierra Bravo President Luke Bucklin. “And when you consider the collective impact these nonprofits make in our community, losing some sleep to help them work smarter online — and further their mission — seems like a wise investment.”

As event sponsors, New Horizons of Minnesota will donate computer training to each nonprofit and reduced rates to volunteer developers; VISI will give each nonprofit a year of free web hosting. In-kind supporters: Adobe, Best Buy, Buffalo Wild Wings, Bruegger’s, Chipotle, Microsoft, Peace Coffee, Pragmatic Programmers, Red Bull, Umbria Pizza, and Walker Art Center.

About Sierra Bravo Corporation

Sierra Bravo Corporation is a software development company focused on helping organizations to improve efficiency while maximizing their investment in existing training, processes, and technology. Founded in 2003 by three innovative programmers, Sierra Bravo has grown to more than 50 people by helping companies strengthen their business through technical solutions. We provide full technology partnerships to small and medium enterprises, including web development services, custom programming, and hardware and software sales and support. If you want your organization to work smarter, work with Sierra Bravo. Visit us online at www.sierra-bravo.com.

Media Contacts

Luke Bucklin
President
Office: (952) 948-1211 x 1011
Cell: (612) 282-1043
Email:

Mark Hurlburt
Director of Marketing
Office: (952) 948-1211 x 1018
Email:

Online After-School Activity Database

Our client, a consulting firm providing services to non-profits, wanted an online database to share after-school programs with organizers, children, parents and guardians. We created a web-based user-friendly and dynamic event calendar with Google Maps utilizing their existing Access database of events so users could find events and activities based on categories, cost, age and location. Read the whole case study.