HOPE CHEST ATTENDS MARATHON AND WORKS WITH NEW TEAM TO

DEVELOP NEW WEBSITE

MARCH 1-2, 2008

    On March 1st, eleven non-profit organizations, chosen as winners of the Sierra Bravo F1 Tech Challenge, gathered to redesign their websites. This contest drew applications from 34 non-profits to vie for the opportunity to receive 24 hours of FREE professional website development. Teams of volunteer web designers came forward to deliver on the promise to to develop more attractive, user friendly websites to advance the charity work or our organizations. Each of the non-profits sent a lead individual who committed to stay on site for the entire overnight event, so when we call Barbara Hensley, Hope Chest Founder, our "tireless leader," we REALLY mean it.  

    The 30 hour marathon of web development began at 7:30 am when teams and organizations were paired. The Hope Chest luckily landed with a team of experienced web designers a St. Cloud company who dubbed themselves "Team .Net." After sharing our story, mission, and concept for what we would like to do online, the team took charge of our media materials and went to work. The weeks or preparation paid off as the project manager shared with Barbara, "If all of our paying customers came to us this prepared, we would find our work much easier." Hope Chest staff and volunteers alike worked to prep materials for the team knowing that the best results required this work up front.  

    Every 4 hours Team .Net came up for air to discuss progress with our Hope Chest team.The programmers continued with frequent check ins, requests for content, and updates through the wee hours of the morning. A large countdown clock displayed the front of the room loomed as a reminder that we would not get to sleep for a very long time! At 7 am we were finally able to see the site and learn how we would be able to update and add content to it going forward. It was a thrilling transformation! The media came by at 8 am and filmed Barbara for a piece aired on weekend Today. Running on pure adrenaline and very little sleep, she conveyed the positive energy both the non-profit participants and volunteer website specialists had for the event.  

    By noon each team presented a three minute summary of what they had accomplished for their non-profit organization and judging began. Although the Hope Chest was not awarded F1's prize as "best site," we know that we were in the top three, and more importantly, that we received help developing the right site for us and those of you who access our information over the Internet.

Look for the unveiling of our new website in the weeks to come!

Barbara Interviewed by F1 News         Barbara Interviewed by AMNews       Barbara by Clock-Less than 4 hours left!!!!