What started as a pilot program created by a few passionate employees,
PayPal’s Opportunity Hack has become a global movement that connects local nonprofits and communities to the technology, skills and training needed to make a difference. Since its founding in 2013, there have been nine Opportunity Hacks enlisting over 1,000 participants to help 125 organizations in need.
In 2015, approximately 700 people participated at four different locations. Following Opportunity Hacks in
San Jose, California, and Chandler, Arizona, last year, employees in Bangalore and Chennai, India, ended the year on a high note as they joined forces with local community members to help 30 nonprofit organizations solve real business problems, which included improving user experience, SEO and donation flows.
PayPal organizers pose with guest speaker, Dr. Karin Bedi, at the Chennai Opportunity Hack
During the Chennai Opportunity Hack, the team supporting Blue Cross of India won the hackathon, delivering an interactive multi channel system to help notify Blue Cross about animals in distress in order for nonprofit volunteers to rescue them in time.
But more than winning, what’s most important to Opportunity Hack participants is the shared purpose of providing valuable solutions to empower nonprofits. From PayPal employees to community members and students, each person is wholeheartedly excited to dedicate their personal time and skills to the people and organizations making a positive impact on the world.
“The energy and enthusiasm at Opportunity Hack is hard to put into words,” said Chander Harikesavan, PayPal Software Developer and Opportunity Hack Organizer in Chennai. “The collaborative spirit and genuine motivation to help those in need is undeniable. I’m incredibly proud to work for a company that invests in making the world a better place.”
To learn more about Opportunity Hack’s history, mission and the positive impact it’s making on the world, check out the video below.
There are currently two confirmed Opportunity Hack locations for 2016 (San Jose and Timonium, Maryland), with at least three other sites planning to activate by the end of the year. In its fourth year, the Opportunity Hack program will not only reach new locations, but also evolve in unique ways. In March for example, Timonium’s first Opportunity Hack will engage high school students who will hack over a period of two months as
PayPal employees mentor them on a weekly basis to deliver a finished product in May.
Thank you to all of the employees, community members and nonprofit organizations around the world for participating in Opportunity Hack! We can’t wait to see even more great work in 2016. For people interested in participating, you can learn more about
Opportunity Hack here.