Along came Maya to help Horton’s Kids

I’ve met dozens of nonprofit leaders over the last five years, and all of their stories tug at my heart.

As a judge for NPower Greater D.C. Region’s annual Technology Innovation Awards, I get to read about local groups I might not have otherwise ever known.

There was Peace X Peace last year. The D.C.-based group leverages telecommunications technologies to connect women from different cultures throughout the world. The connections made foster a better understanding and help empower women.

And there was DC Learns, which implemented a Web-based content management system that allows members of the staff to access and update information on its Web site at all times of the day. The group’s Web site serves as a fairly comprehensive clearinghouse for literacy programs throughout the city.

Every nomination I’ve seen in the five years of the awards program has inspired me in some way. Maybe it was to donate money to the youth symphony, or to buy gift cards that can’t be used to buy a Barbie. The work nonprofits do using technology with limited resources amazes me. And I’m happy that NPower and its supporters — Accenture has sponsored the technology awards since the beginning — bring these stories to me and the rest of the community.

This year, however, the work being done and the technology being used to do that work were not the most impressive part of the awards.

That honor lies squarely on the shoulders of a 17-year-old intern.

Maya Krishnan started working with Horton’s Kids last year after hearing about the organization through Compass, which pairs students and alumni from top business schools with local nonprofit groups. Maya’s mom works for Compass, so when Maya heard there was a nonprofit that worked with kids and was in need of some help with technology, she asked for a job.

Maya looks like the typical teenager I see hanging out at the mall with her friends. She probably does hang out around town with her friends, although now that I’ve met her I’d say she spends more time at the library than at the mall.

After talking with Maya, it is clear she is an intelligent and articulate young woman who understands both technology and service to her community.

Horton’s Kids, which gives children in Ward 8 some much-needed assistance through a variety of programs and services, was stuck in the past when Maya walked through its doors on Capitol Hill.

The nonprofit had received software from Salesforce as part of a grant, but the staff was too busy working with children and keeping operations going to figure out how to leverage the software.

Along came Maya.

Maya customized the customer relationship management software for Horton’s Kids. Instead of tracking down sales leads, staff can make sure everyone who works with Tommy knows that his mom just lost her job or that he just won the spelling bee.

For its use of technology, Horton’s Kids won $35,000 in software and consulting services from NPower. The Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County was also honored this year for its innovative work. But, like I said, it wasn’t technology or the use of it that struck me this year. It was Maya.

Maybe it’s because I’m a father this year. I spend so much time thinking about what my daughter will be like when she goes off to kindergarten — and college — that I can’t stop thinking about Maya.

I want to give my daughter all she needs to grow into a confident and bright young woman. I want to inspire my daughter to use her time and energy to help people in need. I want to teach my daughter to be good and to do good.

NPower Executive Director Julie Chapman said Maya would impress me. And she certainly did.