Q& A with Kamal Shah, fundraiser extraordinaire

Kamal (second from the right) with friends and family at the celebration party after our first Giving Challenge in 2016.

The Hack the Hood Community Giving Challenge is underway with a number of people answering the call to champion the work we do. Members of our community are creating fundraising pages and asking their friends, family and broader network to support youth learning tech at Hack the Hood!​

We sat down with Kamal Shah, CEO of FotoNotes and a long-time supporter and board member of Hack the Hood about how he thinks about Hack the Hood and the Challenge.  Here's what he had to say...

Kamal, you volunteer your time and expertise as a board member, and for the past three years, you've been a leading fundraiser during our annual Giving Challenge.  What inspires you to give your time and energy to this cause? 

I’m both a long-time Oakland resident and tech entrepreneur.  I’m inspired by the way that Hack the Hood generates opportunities for the youth in my community that they have never had before.  Hack the Hood provides them a path to a career in tech that can help them improve their lives and the lives of their families.  Their creativity, energy, and motivation make both the Oakland community and the tech community stronger.

​What is it about Hack the Hood that makes you excited? 

The unique approach Hack the Hood takes to tackle the challenges is what makes me really excited.  I really like the hands-on practical approach to learning by building websites for local business. It provides the youth with real world experience and confidence building.


Why do you think it's important to ask your friends to contribute to Hack the Hood?

We are all part of the same community and I’m asking them to help the community by contributing to Hack the Hood.  I think lots of people want to help but don’t know how or where to best contribute.  Having someone connected to the organization hopefully makes that decision easier.


Do you have any tips for people who are interested in getting involved in the campaign as a fundraiser, but don't know where to start?

First of all - just start! It’s really easy to create a fundraising page. Then email all of your friends and share on social media and mention why you like the organization or what inspires you and what your fundraising goal is.  Send regular updates every few days by both email and social media thanking those that have donated and give an update on where you are in relation to your goal.  Your friends will want to help you help the organization and meet your goal if they know why you are doing it and get a few regular reminders.

Feel inspired to get involved?

STart fundraising!