Something Awesome: The Charity App Challenge!

Scroll, click, code. In the computer world that’s akin to ready, set, go.  Over two-days in February that’s exactly what Calgary software developers will be doing to help create mobile apps that benefit Calgary charities.

We’re proud to announce that Awesome Foundation - Calgary is working with the Calgary Herald, Digital Alberta and Place2Give to find out what Calgary’s IT talent can do to help 12 Awesome Calgary charities with a two-day Hack-a-thon taking place on Saturday, February 2 through Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Calgary Herald as part of the Charity App Challenge.

While 48 hours isn't a lot of time to develop a fully-functional gold release, the winning team will receive a chance to work with the charities to further develop and refine their apps with a $37,000 contract to be awarded after the Hack-a-thon on Sunday evening.

If you or someone you know is up to the challenge, there’s still time and room to get involved, whether as an app developer, a volunteer or as a sponsor.

If you're an app developer or part of a team and wish to enter the Charity App Challenge, fill out the entry form here.

If you're interested in helping out as a volunteer, fill out this form.

If you're on Twitter and just want to help spread the word, you can keep up with the developers at either @YYCCharityHack or using the hashtag #Hack4Good.

For more information, check out the Calgary Herald website or contact Ann Huskinson, Calgary Herald Christmas Fund Manager at AHuskinson@calgaryherald.com.

Back in the saddle again with a six-shooter and a bag o' cash

The start of a new year means it's time to bring back everybody's favourite fourth-Thursday-of-the-month event.  I'm talking about, of course, Awesome Calgary's Thousand Dollar Thursday.

This month, you can find our recap of the event on Storify, which is also embedded below for your reading pleasure.

The winner for this month was Neil Egsgard with Kensington Interaction, a space built by Neil to showcase local knowledge and to connect community in the neighbourhood of Sunnyside.  You can see Neil's project submission on the main AF website here and read our micro-grant announcement on the International AF blog here.

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to join us at our event yesterday, and thank you to all of our Top4 Finalists for the month of January.  We hope we were able to bring you some exposure to your Awesome Ideas, and you never know who's out there watching…

Big thanks to Chinook Centre for graciously hosting us this month as well.

And thank you to everyone who submitted an idea for consideration this month too.  It's always hard to whittle down all the monthly submissions into our short lists, and we encourage you to resubmit your idea if you wish.  We're currently accepting submissions for our February prize; if you'd like to put forward an idea, simply fill out this handy-dandy web form.  The deadline for submissions this round is Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.

Finally, we're on the look out for new Trustees and new volunteers across a wide variety of positions.  If you feel that you have something to contribute to the Awesome Movement in Calgary (or if you're a venue interested in hosting one of our events this year), send a message to kevin@awesomecalgary.org.

Until next month, Stay Awesome!

Important Information regarding this month's Thousand Dollar Thursday event at Chinook Centre

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Just a reminder that our Awesome Calgary Thousand Dollar Thursday event for January 2013 (our first of the new year!) will be held at Chinook Centre.

This month, we'll be on the lower level of the shopping mall at Target Court (formally Zellers), near the escalators and the Starbucks kiosk.

• What:  January 2013 Awesome Calgary Thousand Dollar Thursday
• Where:  Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Trail SW at Target Court, Lower Level (formally Zellers, beside the escalators and Starbucks kiosk)
• When:  Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 6 p.m.

Important Information for Calgary Transit Users

If you're a transit user (like the author of this blog post) or planning to take transit to this month's venue, please note that the Chinook LRT station is closed for construction for the next eight months for modifications to accommodate four-car CTrain cars in the future, and that you won't be able to board or disembark from the CTrain at that station.

Alternative route information can be found at Calgary Transit's website, but if you're a CTrain user and want to take that to the venue, shuttle buses to Chinook station are available at the 39 Avenue CTrain station.

The Chinook bus terminal has been relocated to 3 Street SW as well and all buses that normally would have stopped at the Chinook LRT station can be caught there.

For the most up-to-date information regarding alternative transit routes at Chinook, make sure to check out Calgary Transit's website.

Finally, the new year means we're on the look out for bold ideas and new ways of thinking.  We're looking to bring on many new Trustees and volunteers in a variety of fields for 2013, so if you've ever thought about (or if you're interested!) in joining Team AF-Calgary, now's the perfect time to send an email to kevin@awesomecalgary.org.

Hope to see you this Thursday!

Top 4 Finalists For January 2013!

This is it!  It's time for the first Awesome Calgary Thousand Dollar Thursday of 2013.

First off, here are Awesome Foundation - Calgary's Top4 Finalists and Honourable Mentions for January 2013, in no particular order:

TOP4 FINALISTS

1. Calgary Repair Cafes
2. Wood Book Auction Workshop
3. Kensington Interaction
4. Puppet Power

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

• Fish Creek Terrain Park
• All Charity Festival

BIG Congratulations to all of our Top4 Finalists and Honourable Mentions for January, and thank you so much to everyone who submitted an idea for this month!  (Tip:  Did you know that you can still submit your ideas for future months as well?  Just resubmit the form!)

January's  AF-Calgary Pitch Night is held at Chinook Mall!

• Where:  Chinook Centre 6455 Macleod Trail SW
• When:  Thursday, January 24.  Doors open at 6 p.m., pitches at 6:30 p.m. and AF-Calgary Awesome Hours/Meet & Mingle reception afterwards.

AF-Calgary Trustees will also be around before and after the event holding an informal Awesome Hours session where you can pick our brains about all things Awesome Foundation.  If you've ever had a burning question about how the whole Awesome movement works, or need some inspiration about what projects or ideas are eligible for funding through our chapter or have been funded around the world (To date:  59 chapters, 12 countries on 6 continents!), feel free to ask us or to speak with previous Top4 Finalists and AF-Calgary Fellows for advice at our event!



Finally, we're accepting submissions for our February 2013 micro-grant.  If you have an Awesome Idea that you'd like to submit for consideration for the new year, fill out this handy-dandy web form!

Hope to see you out tomorrow!