Colgate-Palmolive and Black Girls CODE to Host Second Hackathon in San Francisco

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Colgate and Black Girls CODE (BGC), a non-profit on a mission to teach one million girls of color computer programming by 2040, will culminate its 2017 CODE a Brighter Future Hackathon Workshop Series this weekend, September 22–24, 2017, in San Francisco. More than 100 young girls, between the ages of 12 to 17, will convene at Galvanize at 44 Tehama Street in San Francisco, for a 2½-day workshop to learn to code and design mobile apps to address and solve problems in their community.  

This partnership between Colgate and BGC launched during Black History Month earlier this year, with an online campaign appealing to the newest generation of young women of color to get interested in technology, while raising funds for BGC through shares. The first hackathon workshop series took place in April in New York City with more than 80 young aspiring coders. In addition, a video highlighting the CODE a Brighter Future partnership is also being featured in an ASPIREist series airing nationally on CNN.com and HLN News television network this month.  

The hackathon allows students to work in teams with experienced mentors over an entire weekend building apps and tools. The girls are taught by coders and include ideation, app design + development and coding lessons.

On the final day (9/24) of the Hackathon, a panel of guest judges, including entrepreneurs, developers and executives will select the winning app that will help pave the way to a brighter future. The winning group of students will receive a prize. There will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place prizes awarded.

Here is a breakdown of the hackathon schedule:

Friday, September 22 – Sunday, September 24

• Friday: 6 m – 9 pm — Welcome + introductions, theme discussion, creation of teams, product ideation workshop
• Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm — Subject matter discussion, design user interface, design / build + presentation skills
• Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm — Build demo, complete coding, final presentation workshop, demo presentation
• Sunday: 5 pm – 6 pm — Final presentations, winners selected & presentation of check

"At Colgate, we believe that everyone deserves a future they can smile about," said Carla Kelly, General Manager, U.S. Multicultural Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive. "This partnership with Black Girls CODE helps us to provide healthier and brighter futures for young girls as they gain access to technology, ultimately transforming their lives and their communities."

Black Girls CODE has a mission — teach 1 million girls of color to code by 2040. Through the partnership with Colgate, donations raised by online participation in this campaign will directly benefit budding coders by providing scholarships and funds to help young girls participate in Black Girls CODE programs, including hackathon workshops.

"We are so pleased to partner with Colgate," said Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls CODE. "Our mission is to create a movement that changes the game for young girls. We want to create a community of girls who will be empowered to become catalysts for transformation in their communities."

For more information on Colgate's #CodeABrighterFuture campaign, visit www.blackgirlscode.com/colgate.

About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet, Hill's Prescription Diet and Hill's Ideal Balance. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's website at http://www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures^® oral health education program, please visit http://www.colgatebsbf.com.

About Black Girls CODE
Since 2011, Black Girls CODE has been a transformative global movement fueled by the power of individual, but connected and engaged chapters, dedicated to providing girls of color with the technical skills and inspiration to become technology leaders of tomorrow. Black Girls CODE is committed to changing the face of technology. In 2012 — its first full year of programming — BGC engaged, educated and empowered 800 girls in 16 cities across the globe.

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SOURCE Colgate-Palmolive

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