Make a Mark began as an idea in 2014 — why don’t we take the traditional hack-a-thon structure and transform it into a design and development marathon to support nonprofit organizations? After working with nonprofits for several years prior, we realized that impact of good design doesn’t end with those who can afford it.
Our Story
over the years
Our
Story
The inaugural make-a-thon was held at the Corporate Research Center in Blacksburg, VA, supporting nonprofits in the New River Valley and neighboring Roanoke Valley. At this event, twelve nonprofits were served over twelve hours with nearly fifty makers (creatives) volunteering their time. At the end of that first event, we knew there would be another. It quickly turned into an annual event in the region.
In 2017, we began to expand — first with Chattanooga, TN, then New York City, and finally Baltimore, MD. Further events would occur in Charlotte, NC, Brussels, Belgium, and San Francisco, CA. The make-a-thon model spread to over a dozen cities across the globe with local organizers leading the efforts.
Today we are excited to share all of the knowledge and ideas collected over the last decade. The goal of this replication guide is to provide you with the collective knowledge of the Make a Mark community with the hope that anyone in any community can hold a make-a-thon, whether it be once, twice, or dozens of times.
What is so special about Make a Mark isn’t just the creative assets that are produced, it is the community forged and the world views that expand. The makers build true connections with the nonprofits that they are serving. Not only do the nonprofits get a broader understanding of the power of design and technology for the humanitarian sector, but they also shine a light on the problems that those in our towns and cities face.
We, as designers, marketers, and technologists, are able to serve those nonprofits that spend their days being underpaid, understaffed, and underappreciated to do the work that saves our neighbors, our friends, and especially those who often go forgotten.
This event is about creating equity of design for organizations that worry about the toughest problems in our towns and cities, labor over grants and reports, and sacrifice money and time with their families so we don’t have to think about or solve these same problems. Through our work to help nonprofits, we are providing beautiful design and technology that can share stories and support grant applications. But more importantly, we are sharing experiences and spreading hope to one another. We are saying a small thank you to those in our society who work tirelessly. We are building empathy in a world that needs it desperately.
thank you
FROM MAKE A MARK FOUNDER
sarah obenauer
Make a Mark wouldn't exist without my husband, Alexander Obenauer. For each event that we organized, we would spend hours pouring over applications, building teams, and solving problems together. Thank you deeply for believing in me and for being my partner in this endeavor. I'm so grateful that we got to share all of the laughs and tears together.
Thank you to Christina Herrington, a beautiful friend and human, who helped bring the first and all future Roanoke-Blacksburg make-a-thons to life. Thank you for being there through all the unnaturally hot meetings in the early days and for bringing life and energy to the events.
A special dedication to Kathy Graham Sullivan. Kathy was a force and her energy and passion power me in my advocacy work to this day. She served as director of RAYSAC (Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition) for nearly a decade, where I had the honor to meet her. In 2016, Kathy passed away after a cancer diagnosis. She truly was a generous, energetic, graceful woman and a role model to me. I can never thank her enough for teaching me the importance of community and kindness, but also toughness. She will continue to impact my journey each step of the way.