Philly DoGooder ramps up for year two

Consider the story of One Simple Wish.

During the video hackathon for the first Philly DoGooder awards, the Trenton-based nonprofit teamed up with a local filmmaker and made this video — a, yes, touching little portrait of the work they do granting the wishes of children in the foster care system.

The video turned out to be a shot in the arm for One Simple Wish, helping to catapult it into the national media spotlight. The nonprofit was even named one of CNN’s top 10 heroes of 2013.

“They were on the final awards with Anderson Cooper and everything, and it was really amazing to see what we got the chance to create,” said Dave Gloss, Philly DoGooder’s lead organizer and co-founder of the digital marketing firm Here’s My Chance. “All because … [we] helped tell their story more simply and concisely, and they got the recognition they deserved.”

Gloss is now ramping up for Philly DoGooder’s sophomore effort, with a renewed focus on helping local do-gooders tell their stories more effectively.

And even though Gloss cites big numbers for year one — 130,000 people who participated in some form, 91 organizations involved, 23 new jobs created — the DoGooders are broadening the tent this year to include individuals and for-profits.

“We’ve realized that the sector is changing,” Gloss said. “To do good things on the planet, you don’t need to be just a nonprofit.

“We’re really evolving and recognizing how the for-profit sector and entrepreneurs and corporations can have a real role in doing good things — and their stories deserve to be told as well,” he said.

The process is under way now. DoGooder‘s first deadline is Dec. 31, when organizations looking to team up with local filmmakers must submit their video hackathon applications.

The hackathon itself is set for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 20. After that, video judging in February. And, finally, a gala awards ceremony on March 12. Last year’s party drew more than 400, including the mayor.

The local awards will also feed into the national DoGooder Awards, which are presented by YouTube.