Sarah Ford | February 19, 2014

Video Hackathon Strengthening Creative Communities & Helping Charities Like Canine Partners for Life

After eight years, hundreds of videos, multiple partnerships and exponential growth, it’s safe to say the DoGooder Video Awards have an inspirational, funny, sometimes heartbreaking and always informative history. And we’re thrilled to report it’s only getting more awesome from here.

Ìýfounded the DoGooder Awards as a way to recognize and reward organizations and causes that are advancing social change and creating real impact by telling stories through video. In creating the awards, these nonprofits and individuals were given a space to share them so others may learn.

¸é±ð³¦±ð²Ô³Ù±ô²â,Ìý, in collaboration withÌý, developed the localÌýmodel to stimulate the need and importance of quality impact storytelling.

The result was the world’s first impact video hackathon, where filmmakers are paired with organizations to create compelling PSA style films in 10 days. (See the below slideshow for some of the videos they created.)

The hackathon is a simple model where all preproduction is completed in a single day. Following a random drawing, the paired teams take five hours to develop a narrative, identify production needs like site scouting and props and set a shooting/editing schedule.

Teams are supported with tons of local resources and access, plus established filmmakers, screenwriters and storytellers serving as advisors. Organizations are also empowered with digital community building workshops to prepare their communities to share the video and vote in the challenge.

Ìý

¾«¶«Ó°Òµ’s Charities Member, Canine Partners for Life, Featured in Philly DoGooder Awards:

is delighted to announce that they have been chosen as a featured nonprofit in Philly’s DoGooder 2nd Annual Video Awards.Ìý The PhillyÌýDoGooderÌýAwards was launched to celebrate the power of impact storytelling through videos and create opportunities for the region’s emerging filmmakers to connect with the area nonprofits.ÌýThe DoGooder project is awesome: create an original video that effectively communicates what the organization is all about and howÌýthe work of the organizationÌýimpacts the lives of others. Then the video is voted on by both the public (through social media)ÌýandÌýa distinguished lineup of judges at the awards ceremony in March.

CPL was very fortunate to be partnered with an amazing independent filmmaker from Philadelphia, Cory Popp. In spite of heavy snowfalls, Cory immediately began filming one of CPL’s graduates, Alison and her partner Wynn as they traveled throughout the city. Then he came outÌýto the CPL campus in Cochranville and filmed service dog training in progress. In onlyÌýten shortÌýdays, Cory put a wonderful video together that captures the energy, strength and hopeÌý of CPL graduates and their remarkable canine partners.

Voting is Open! ÌýTo show your support, vote for CPL at:

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