If you’re tempted to tell 48in48 volunteers that something can’t be done, don’t bother. They don’t listen very well.
For the past two years professionals in Atlanta’s digital marketing community have been issued a challenge: build 48 websites, for 48 local nonprofits, in just 48 hours.
For two years now, they’ve taken the challenge and won. Big. In 2015 they built 48 websites, designed 4 logos, and wrote 48 blogs. In 2016 they built 48 websites, designed dozens of new logos, and provided each nonprofit with customized e-mail templates and marketing strategies. All in just 48 hours.
How do they do that?
The challenge is carried out during a weekend-long event known as 48in48. For two days volunteers manned with laptops, whiteboards, and an endless supply of espresso work together to create 48 custom websites for local nonprofits. It’s a remarkable experience, heavy on creative energy and substantially devoid of sleep. The task might sound impossible, yes … but the gents behind the idea have a way of making you believe you can do almost anything.
48in48 is the brainchild of two crazy geniuses, Jeff Hilimire and Adam Walker.
Both men became successful in Atlanta’s digital marketing industry, and both are passionate about giving back to the community. In 2015 they founded 48in48 Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on serving other nonprofits. The concept is simple:
“Nonprofits spend all of their time doing good, not looking good. Imagine how much good they could do if they looked good as well? How powerful would it be to let highly skilled professionals (like designers and developers) use their skillset to help nonprofits grow?”
The idea they came up with is genius.
Jeff and Adam created something rare: a small nonprofit with an exponential reach. Most nonprofits exist to meet the needs of specific individuals. 48in48 exists to meet one need common to all nonprofits. With a good website, one nonprofit can reach hundreds of people; by creating websites for hundreds of nonprofits, 48in48 impacts thousands of lives.
It’s the way they do things that’s crazy.
Assembling teams of volunteers with the skills it takes to build good websites is challenging. Asking those teams (many of which have never met) to create 48 new websites (for nonprofits they’ve never heard of) within 48 hours borders on madness.
Crazy can be done, however, when you add passion to the mix.
People who are successful often give back to their communities, but there’s something special in the way Jeff, Adam, and their crew approach their work. You can’t go through a 48in48 event without seeing that these guys put their hearts behind what they do. They believe in dreaming big, and they have a passion for helping nonprofits bring dreams to life.
Want to give it a go?
If you missed the 2016 Atlanta event, you’ve got another chance to get in on the action this year. 48in48 is headed to New York this weekend, November 4-6, for the 48in48 NYC Hackathon at LMHQ in Manhattan. The fun starts Friday night at 7 p.m. and runs non-stop through Sunday. Everyone is welcome, regardless of skill set. They need all kinds of volunteers – from designers and developers to greeters and foodies and jacks-of-all-trades. Get the details and sign up now at https://newyork.48in48.org/.
If you can’t make it this year, though, don’t worry. Those crazy geniuses aren’t done dreaming yet. If the rumors are true, before long they’ll be holding events in 48 cities around the world every year (and maybe all at the same time).
Just remember, joining this crowd comes with risk. Once you’re in the door you’ll lose your ability to hear certain words … like, “it can’t be done.”
The Writing Wood 