Donafy App Logo (Photo: Donafy)
In case you didn't know March is Women's History Month, so here at ChicDivaGeek Files we want to highlight some great technology or apps created by women. So every Thursday we will be doing just that!
Well what do you know, today is Thursday! So let me introduce you to Donafy and it's founder Nikki Johnson-Huston.
The App
Donafy is an app that allows you to locate, donate and notify nearby nonprofits. These nonprofits server those in need of food, housing, medical, mental health, LGBT and legal services. Right now the Donafy App is limited to Philadelphia, but I think that this app is something that can be taken to metropolitan cities across the country! As a philanthropist the question often comes up, "I want to donate but can you give me some places?" This app could make that connection for alot of people. My favorite feature about the app, is that it allows you to notify organizations (if they have street teams) that someone at a location is in need of services. A lot of times those in need of the services and/or the organizations just need to be connected.
Donafy Screen (Photo: App Store)
Donafy Screen (Photo: App Store)
The Creator
Nikki Johnson-Huston (pictured left) makes sure to let you know immediately that she isn't a tech person. She is actually a tax attorney by profession, but she is also an advocate for the homeless. She was homeless at the age of 9, failed out of college by 18, but by the time she was 30 years old she had graduated law school with a J.D, MBA, and LL.M in Taxation. Nikki lost her younger brother in 2010, he suffered from a drug addiction and HIV. "I wasn't able to help him but I am hoping to help others" She uses her story to inspire others that things can be overcame, and this is what inspired her to create the app. As I mentioned before often times there those in need don't know where to go to get services, even those that want to help aren't sure where to direct people to.
Nikki has a successful law practice in Philadelphia (www.phillytaxdiva.com). Nikki has been featured on the Bill O' Reilly show, Huffington Post, NPR and the Philadelphia Inquirer to name a few. Amongst her many accolades she has received the 2014 Game Changer for Black History Month by CBS3/CW Philly/KYW News Radio 1060am for advocacy work, as well as the 2015 PoWeR Award from the Professional Women's Roundtable. The hope is that the Donafy app will help give back to the city that was so good to her. The app is currently only available on iPhone but it's free so what are you waiting for go download it! Maybe we can get this app to expand to the DMV area? The need is here and so are those wanting to give!
~ChicDivaGeek