'Hackathon' at Florida's Palm Beach County Called for a Good Cause

Software engineers, developers, designers, coders, hackers and techies are being invited by a grant-making group for a 'hackathon' event, dubbed Code4GoodPBC, on March 28-29 aimed at creating technology solutions for local non-profits, reports the Sun-Sentinel.

Code4GoodPBC is the first event of its kind in the county according to the Quantum Foundation, a private grant-making organization which supports health care projects for the benefit the people of Palm Beach County, Florida. In making the event possible, the foundation has collaborated with health-care IT company Modernizing Medicine and FAU Tech Runway, which is a public-private partnership formed to foster technology start-ups based within the Florida Atlantic University campus grounds.

The Code4GoodPBC competition will be held at Tech Runway, at 901 NW 35th Street in Boca Raton where a hands-on environment will be provided "to connect, build teams and create a piece of software that enhances the quality of life in under-served communities," according to the organizers. Throughout the hackathon, participants will work together to create a technology solution then present their project to a panel of judges on the final day.

The event, said the organizers, should give the participants an opportunity to showcase their skills and code for good in Palm Beach County.

As Dan Cane, CEO and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine, said, "South Florida is home to some of the best and brightest coders and software developers, as well as individuals dedicated to improving society. The technology resulting from the Code4Good hackathon will help increase efficiency and improve healthcare outcomes for our region's citizens and beyond."

There are cash incentives for the participating teams to show up and put their talents to work. The top three teams will receive prizes in these denominations: First Prize: $5,000; Second Prize: $3,000; Third Prize: $2,000. The first place team will also be given the opportunity to participate in building their solution into an actual working product. "At the end of this hackathon, the technology will serve a greater good," said Eric Kelly, Quantum Foundation's president.

Code4GoodPBC is open for anyone to join but registration is required. All inquiries are welcome at code4goodpbc.org.