Refresh Weekend 2010

Extreme Web Makeover

Forty-eight hours. Three websites. One great cause.

 

INDIANAPOLIS – JANUARY 11, 2010 – The Indiana University School of Informatics at IUPUI and RefreshIndy, a local organization of web designers, developers and graphic artists, are bringing together the best professional and student talent in Indianapolis to develop three websites for three local non-profit organizations within 48 hours. This non-stop event begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15 at the Informatics and Communication Technology Complex on the IUPUI campus. The date coincides with the University’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service encouraging students, faculty and staff to give back to the greater Indianapolis community.


Indianapolis web professionals will lead teams of student volunteers from the School’s informatics and media arts and science programs throughout this unique service learning opportunity. “This is a fun and challenging way for our students to learn from some of the top professionals in the city while also giving their time and energy to a greater cause,” said Mark McCreary, Assistant Dean for Student Services at the IU School of Informatics at IUPUI. Professionals donating their services to the cause include creative talent from Justify Studios, Squish Designs, Web Easy Media and Cassis.

 

Read more from this press release

 

 

More About Refresh Weekend 2010

Justin Harter, Nicki Laycoax and Mayor Ballard

Left-to-Right: Justin Harter, RefreshIndy founder & event organizer; Nicki Laycox, Refresh Volunteer & Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. Photo taken by Dezra Despain.

Refresh Weekend 2010 was a huge success. Three deserving Indianapolis non-profit organizations received a new website and in the instance of My Sister's Place, a new logo, too.

 

At the start of the event, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard arrived to thank all of the volunteers for such a massive undertaking.

 

A first for much of the world, RefreshIndy organized three sites in an astonishigly small amount of time: 48 hours. Volunteers worked around the clock forgoing sleep and their own time to give back to the Indianapolis community.

 

The Indianapolis Star also covered the event, saying in part:

 

Bill Kuster, program director for Progress House, said he hopes the new Web site will allow clients to fill out applications online, pay for services online via PayPal and get a virtual tour of the halfway house.


"Our funds are pretty tight these days," he said, "so free is good."


Kimberly Beward, marketing director for My Sister's Place, said she hopes a flashier Web site will do a better job of explaining all the services that the nonprofit provides.


Plus, she said, she's pushing for better search-engine optimization, so My Sister's Place will show up
higher in Google's rankings when people search for terms like "domestic violence help" or "addiction recovery."


"We're really into the phase where we're starting to grow and get our name out there," she said. Talbot House stands to gain the most of all -- it doesn't have a Web site.

 

Read the rest of the story from Star staff-writer Erika D. Smith (PDF)

 

View more photos from the event on Flickr

 

 

Progress House

Progress HouseProgress House is a residential recoveryprogram for alcohol and/or drug dependent men who are looking to rebuild their lives. The program has been successfully operating in Indianapolis for 45 years. We are a community of around 70 men, and an average length of stay is 6 to 12 months.

 

The men who come to Progress House have often lost a great deal in their lives (lost jobs, lost bank accounts, lost health insurance, lost cars & driver’s license, lost freedom through incarceration, lost homes, lost contact with family & true friends). Progress House offers its residents an opportunity to build a stable recovery and change the circumstances of their lives.

 

Team Progress House

 

 

 

Talbot House

Talbot HouseTalbot House is a non-profit, residential program for men suffering from addiction located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

 

Individuals who reside here are committed to sobriety and finding a better life.

 

Team Talbot House

 

 

 

 

My Sister's Place

My Sister's PlaceMy Sister's Place is a non-profit organization established to provide transitional services and resources to displaced and at-risk women and their families who need aftercare support and mentoring.

 

Their services include parenting education, individual & family counseling, recovery support services, assistance with housing, job skills training, on-the-job mentoring, transportation, life skills training, trauma & survivor support & referrals to other resources.

 

Team My Sister's Place