Events, Media & Communications

LinkedIn, Taproot Foundation to Host Taproot’s MAKE IT MATTER CHALLENGE Awards Event on September 5, 2014

Panel of judges, including LinkedIn executive chairman and co-founder Reid Hoffman, to evaluate four finalist ideas to connect thousands of nonprofits to quality pro bono professional resources
Aug 27, 2014 9:00 AM ET
Campaign: Taproot's MAKE IT MATTER CHALLENGE Awards Event

August 27, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Four finalists in Taproot’s MAKE IT MATTER CHALLENGE will present their ideas for connecting thousands of nonprofits to quality pro bono resources to a panel of esteemed judges, including LinkedIn’s executive chairman and co-founder Reid Hoffman and Taproot President and CEO Liz Hamburg.

WHAT: The four finalists in Taproot’s MAKE IT MATTER CHALLENGE will present their ideas to:

Ideas are focused on successfully connecting thousands of nonprofits to quality pro bono resources. Two teams with the best ideas will each receive a $10,000 award. The two winning teams will also receive $5,000 each to donate to the nonprofits of their choice.

WHO: LinkedIn and Hoffman are sponsoring this challenge, led by Taproot Foundation. Taproot Foundation’s mission is to lead, mobilize and engage professionals in pro bono service that drives social change.

Four teams of finalists from around the country will be pitching their ideas to the panel.

WHY: Since September 2013, more than two million LinkedIn members have indicated their interest in giving back by offering their professional services free of charge (“pro bono”) to a nonprofit. As a further sign of the growing professional movement to do pro bono, 82% of surveyed LinkedIn members said they want to volunteer their time and skills. Meanwhile, Taproot has found that 90% of nonprofits want more, high-quality pro bono in areas such as marketing, IT, and HR.

However, nonprofits report that the two biggest obstacles to engaging in pro bono service are lack of time and finding quality resources. The core need now is to get more nonprofits to engage those professionals in service. Earlier this summer, Taproot launched the challenge to generate innovative ideas that would change the landscape of pro bono service and find new ways to connect high-performing nonprofits to an exceptional market of engaged and motivated professionals willing to provide pro bono services.

Over 150 ideas were submitted. The final four will be presented and judged at this event, and two winners will be announced.

ATTENDANCE: This event is invite-only and not open to the public. Members of the media should RSVP to Adam Ukman at adam@taprootfoundation.org.

WHEN: Friday, September 5, 2014, 2-5 pm.

Interviews can be arranged with Reid Hoffman, Liz Hamburg, and all judges and contestants either immediately before or after the event.

WHERE: LinkedIn Corporation, Building 3, Room: Unite, 2025 Stierlin Ct, Mountain View, CA 94043

Media Contact:

Adam Ukman

Taproot Foundation

Ph: 312-623-4265

adam@taprootfoundation.org

Website: www.taprootfoundation.org

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