Technology has the power to transform lives and strengthen communities, especially when used for good. The Pacific Northwest is home to organizations and individuals who are leading the charge in making the world a better place through tech-driven initiatives. This year, three exceptional efforts will be celebrated as Geeks Give Back honorees at the 2024 GeekWire Awards. The recipients include Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center’s Coding for Cancer program, Housing Connector, a nonprofit pairing landlords and renters with imperfect rental backgrounds, and TrueMedia, a nonpartisan group using AI to detect deepfake videos and combat political disinformation.
The GeekWire Awards recognize the top innovators and companies in Pacific Northwest technology. Honorees for the Geeks Give Back Award are selected based on community nominations and input from awards judges. The winners will be announced at the event on May 9 at Showbox SoDo in Seattle. Table sponsorships are available, and early bird pricing ends on March 31. Those interested in sponsoring a category or purchasing a table sponsorship can contact events@geekwire.com. Special thanks to Astound Business Solutions for being the presenting sponsor of the 2024 GeekWire Awards.
The Coding for Cancer program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center aims to expose high school students to the role of computing skills in biomedicine. The program runs for four weeks in the summer, is virtual for wider reach, and provides students from all backgrounds with technological resources they may not have access to. The goal is to teach students about the possibilities of coding in biomedical sciences early on and before they choose other career paths. Students who complete the program receive a $1,000 stipend and do not need prior computer science skills.
Housing Connector addresses the housing crisis in the Seattle area by connecting landlords with vulnerable renters who have imperfect rental records. The nonprofit provides guarantees for rent payments, insurance for property damage, and social services for renters. It has also partnered with Zillow to create the Zillow Affordable Housing Search Tool. Since its launch five years ago, Housing Connector has expanded to other cities and assisted over 6,200 people in finding housing.
TrueMedia is developing an AI-powered tool to detect deepfake videos, photos, and audio to combat political disinformation before the 2024 elections. Founded and led by Oren Etzioni, the nonpartisan effort aims to provide a free, web-based tool for journalists, fact-checkers, and online influencers. Backed by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp through his Camp.org nonprofit foundation, TrueMedia is preparing to release its tool to the public later this year.
