Website Thru the Nite: The Countdown Has Begun

By: Mike Rhodes—

(This article has been updated with links to the newly created organizational websites. Click the links below to view the newly created works.)

Muncie, IN—By noon on Sunday, six lucky local non-profits will have brand spanking new websites to call their own.

At noon today, the inaugural Website Thru the Nite project kicked off. Six teams of  volunteer technical web developers were matched with six separate non-profit organizations to create six separate—fully designed and operational websites.

Six teams of volunteer web developers and members of local non-profits begin their work at the Innovation Connector.

The catch? They have to create the websites in the next 24 hours.  Not weeks. Hours. All are to be finished by tomorrow at noon.

The initiative was the idea of eKeeper Systems, an IT consulting firm providing comprehensive technology services to companies throughout Central Indiana. The project was announced  over a year ago—calling for volunteers and non-profit participants in Delaware County to come together at Muncie’s Innovation Connector, this weekend.

Ideal candidates included non-profits who serve residents in Delaware County, and either have no web presence at all, or an outdated website requiring an upgrade.  Candidate organizations had about one year to apply for consideration. Six organizations were selected. They are: Children’s Clothing Center, Phillips Outdoor Center, Christian Ministries, Muncie Young Professionals Club, Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Yorktown Council for the Arts. 

When each hour of the 24 hour challenge elapses, the “gong” is struck.

Each website will be designed using the WordPress content management system platform. The Muncie Public Library is donating the website hosting and bandwidth for each website.

Early this morning each team was given a thumb drive with photos/login information and Paypal code. It was then time to consult with each non-profit team leader to discuss content and create a needs analysis driven website.

Jackie Johnston is the board treasurer for the non-profit organization called “Children’s Clothing Center of Delaware County.” When I happened to mention that I had never heard of the organization before, she replied, “We’ve been here since 1983! That’s why we need a website! We provide FREE clothing for children that are referred to us by school principals, nurses or counselors. We also provide clothing for children of resident women at the YWCA or Better Way.”

A primary function of each completed website will be the inclusion of code that will allow each non-profit to accept monetary donations via Paypal via their new website. The functionality will enable each non-profit to manage fundraising for their own distinct organization.

Brandon Coppernoll, a web developer on the Christian Ministries team, concentrates on the task at hand.

According to Website Thru the Nite board member Toni Estep, after the websites are completed, there will be a one-week donation challenge for each website. The organization who receives the most donations via their new website will be named the winner of the Website Thru the Nite challenge.

Board members leading the event include:

*  Jay Julian, Muncie-Delaware Chamber of Commerce

*  Erin Ailstock, Muncie-Delaware Chamber of Commerce

*  Ted Baker, Muncie Innovation Connector

*  Ashli Smith, Spotted Monkey Marketing

*  Richard Gill, Gill Bros. Furniture

*  Jenni Marsh, United Way of Delaware County

*  Toni Estep, Open Door Health Services

*  Casey Stanley, Ontario Systems

*  Dustin Humm, eKeeper Systems, Inc.

*  Dakota Crabtree, The Thompson Group

*  Alexis Dishman, The Innovation Connector