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December 15, 7:16 PMMinneapolis Business ExaminerBonnie Harris

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Only a bunch of programmers would come up with this great idea. For the second year in a row Sierra Bravo, a web development firm based in Bloomington, Minnesota, will sponsor its Overnight Website Challenge.  Non-profit organizations apply for consideration for the Challenge and the chosen NPO's get 24 hours of free web design services provided by volunteer programmers.  The purpose of the event is to highlight how web technology can help non-profits further their missions and assist 10 deserving Minnesota non-profits.  This year's event will be held February 28 - March 1, 2009.

Ten chosen teams of 8-10 designers and programmers  will work on projects for ten chosen non-profits during the 24-hour programmathon. Sierra Bravo will select the teams and non-profits based on qualifications and their applications. Interested folks can also place testimonials on behalf of certain non-profits on the event website. Promoted as an event where "the needy meet the nerdy" last year's Challenge resulted in more than 2000 hours of programming and design services, worth an estimated $250,000.

The ten chosen non-profits get complimentary computer training from New Horizons of Minnesota. Other sponsors include VISI, Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle, Peace Coffee. And of course Red Bull - how else would they stay up all night?