San Luis Obispo creative digital agency Hathway launched Generation: Change on Oct. 22.
A plan like no other, Generation: Change is dedicated to bettering nonprofit organizations nationwide. It will start in San Luis Obispo as partners with the Association of Amputee Surfers (AmpSurf), a program which runs surf clinics for amputees.
Essentially, Generation: Change is a product of Hathway’s young employee base. It is a program for large corporations to adopt and choose to make a donation to a nonprofit organization. It won’t be a cash donation, but rather the creation of a brand new website by Hathway — in this case for AmpSurf.
Hathway’s executives Jesse Dundon and Kevin Rice, both Cal Poly graduates, founded Hathway less than two years ago when their attempts at a hiring business folded in the recession.
Marketing executive of Generation: Change and Cal Poly graduate Evan Rowe said there was a benefit from the collapsed business.
“They had terrible timing,” Rowe said. “But when they were trying to create a website for their company, they became experts in coding. They got the idea to start Hathway.”
Now in its second year, Hathway’s services are highly regarded. The company specializes in digital media as well as Web design and development; it also uses Joomla, an open source software.
Hathway has worked for University of California Berkeley, San Luis Obispo’s Chamber of Commerce, Pyramid Production and many other organizations.
Since the company is up and running, the Hathway team decided it was time to turn their efforts to something philanthropic.
For their first project, Hathway chose AmpSurf. Their goal: to make AmpSurf accessible to anyone who wants information about the organization.
Jesse’s sister and account and marketing coordinator for Hathway, Mary Dundon, said the website for AmpSurf will inform the community about the organization.
“The site will show people what they really are,” Mary said. “It will make it so that people who need information can access it.”
Jesse said the donation of a website gives AmpSurf more publicity than monetary donation.
“Instead of donating money to a nonprofit, we’re giving them something they can’t get from cash donations … a website,” Jesse said.
Mary calls it corporate social responsibility. However, Generation: Change is a form of social responsibility that’s never really been seen before.
Creative director and Cal Poly graduate Garrett Deiter said he feels very fortunate to be part of Generation: Change.
“This is a way to grow as a company,” Deiter said. “We have complete creative freedom.”
Hathway has two current Cal Poly students working as interns as well — journalism seniors Kristy Gonzalez and Erika Bigbie. They have been working on the Generation: Change project since the beginning of fall quarter and are responsible for the circulation of all media.
Bigbie said she has become very invested in the Generation: Change project.
“This is just my internship, I could easily go home and forget about it,” Bigbie said. “But I don’t.”
Jesse said the passion is part of being a younger company.
“That’s why our generation is so forward-thinking,” Jesse said. “We’re not jaded yet, we still have that passion.”
The Hathway group encourages everyone to get involved.
“Help us spread the word,” Bigbie said. “It’s a way to get involved, just follow us on Twitter, or like us on Facebook.”
Hathway is proud of its work, and Deiter said he can’t wait for the efforts to spread.
“You don’t need to be a multibillionaire to give back.” Deiter said. “This is a big statement we’re making.”