Hosted by Project Humanities at Arizona State University, Hacks for Humanity is not just a hackathon—it’s a 36-hour innovation marathon. Participants from diverse backgrounds—including students, faculty, staff, and community members—come together to develop technical solutions that address pressing local and global challenges. By integrating the seven core principles of Humanity 101®—compassion, empathy, forgiveness, integrity, kindness, respect, and self-reflection—each project not only proposes a solution but also fosters personal growth and community understanding.
Our hackathon does more than spark innovation; it inspires action and builds lasting networks, empowering participants to use technology for societal change.
Hacks for Humanity welcomes everyone—from coders to artists, and students to retirees. By uniting diverse perspectives, we ensure groundbreaking solutions emerge every year.
First Place
Crash Test Buddy (Team 11)
Children’s toys should spark imagination, not put their trust at risk. Crash Test Buddy is a crash test for AI toys, designed to help makers identify unsafe interactions before toys reach children. Its Safety Shield adds a layer of protection, while a clear report card gives parents an easy way to check a toy’s safety grade on the box. By making safety easier to test and understand, Crash Test Buddy encourages companies to design with children’s well-being in mind and helps families make informed choices. Humanity 101 Principles used here are – Empathy, Respect, and Integrity.
Second Place
PrePost (Team 7)
PrePost is a pre-post photo safety app built around the idea of “women and children first.” Before a photo goes on social media, PrePost scans it, detects and blurs personally identifiable information such as credit cards, street addresses, and location-revealing details, and, for photos of children, advises whether posting is safe given long-term consequences like bullying and a permanent digital footprint. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Respect, Empathy, and Self-reflection.
Third Place
GrandVillage (Team 18)
GrandVillage brings generations together through shared experiences, meaningful work, and everyday support. The platform connects background-checked retirees with nearby families seeking help with childcare, lessons, and household tasks. Retirees can share their skills and experience while earning additional income, and families can build trusted relationships with caring members of their community. By matching people based on their needs, routines, culture, and values, GrandVillage creates opportunities for companionship and lasting connections—a village where generations support and learn from one another. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Compassion, Empathy, and Integrity.
Best Project Build with ElevenLabs
TogetherWeGrow (Team 16)
Every generation has something valuable to teach and something new to learn. TogetherWeGrow connects older adults and younger generations through mentorship and two-way skill sharing. Older adults can share their professional knowledge and practical experience through paid mentoring opportunities, while younger participants offer support with digital skills and new technologies. With accessible tools, guided learning, and a judgment-free environment, the platform supports older adults seeking less physically demanding work while building meaningful connections across generations. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Respect, and Kindness.
Best Website
Heywren (Team 4)
No one should have to face a frightening call or message alone. This phone companion helps people recognize scam tactics such as panic, urgency, secrecy, and impersonation before sending money or sharing personal information. Designed for older adults, students, teens, and families, it explains warning signs in plain language, provides guidance backed by sources from the FCC and FBI, and lets users alert a trusted person with one tap. By encouraging people to pause, verify, and seek support without blame or judgment, it helps them make informed decisions. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Compassion, Respect, and Integrity.
Team 1 | Cora
Cora Play helps families of neurodivergent children use therapy guidance at home through therapist-approved summaries, step-by-step help cards, and short games to practice between sessions.
Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Compassion, and Respect.
Team 2 | Kin&D
kin&d helps parents of teenagers and college students navigate difficult conversations through personalized cards explaining what to say, what to avoid, and how to respond with care.
Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Respect, and Self-reflection.
Team 3 | Mustard
Mustard is a neighborhood help network where families give and receive support with school, errands, and social activities. Built on care and reciprocity, it helps families grow trusted connections and share everyday responsibilities without exchanging money.
Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Compassion, Kindness, Respect, and Empathy.
Team 5 | Block Stories
EchoTree helps families preserve their elders’ stories, traditions, and voices through voice-guided interviews and a searchable archive. Family members can ask questions and discover answers drawn from real recordings, linked to the original audio, while the storyteller controls who has access.
Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Respect, Empathy, and Integrity.
Team 6 | FamilyHub
This platform helps families exchange childcare hours through a credit-based system, coordinate schedules, and access local resources. By connecting parents who can support one another, it makes childcare more accessible while building community. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Respect, and Kindness.
Team 9 | OPT-OUT
OPT-OUT gives people a collective voice in how technology affects their lives. Through a community-fed database, users can report concerns about software and AI practices, join petitions, and track company responses. The platform advocates for change and recommends human-centered alternatives when concerns remain unresolved. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Integrity, Empathy, and Compassion.
Team 10 | Questlog
This app turns gaming experiences into a personal story by combining game statistics with players’ own reflections, favorite moments, and friendships. Players control what they share, helping loved ones understand what gaming means to them and preserving meaningful memories in their own words. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Self-reflection, Empathy, and Respect.
Team 12 | WebCompass
This proposed age-verification system helps protect children from age-inappropriate content while respecting adults’ privacy. Users verify adulthood once through a trusted provider, then use a secure phone-based credential to confirm eligibility on participating websites without repeatedly sharing identification. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Compassion, Respect, and Integrity.
Team 13 | Talk Kit
This platform helps parents and caregivers practice supportive responses when children share difficult online experiences, such as cyberbullying or inappropriate messages. Through fictional conversations, feedback, and practical next steps, it encourages calm listening, responding without blame, and repairing unhelpful reactions. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Compassion, and Self-reflection.
Team 14 | EverLittle
This app helps autistic children ages 5–13 and their parents connect through daily play, visual diaries, and shared mood check-ins. Photos, drawings, videos, and other forms of expression give families more ways to share their experiences, understand one another, and preserve meaningful memories. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Compassion, Self-reflection, and Empathy.
Team 15 | Family Day
Family Day helps grandparents bring generations together through games families create and shape together. With shared rules and mixed-age teams, it encourages everyone to put phones down, play, and connect. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Respect, and Kindness.
Team 17 | Rigatoni
Rigatoni helps families stay connected through private photo and voice updates, reflection prompts, and shared calendars across time zones. By bringing everyday sharing, caregiving coordination, and support resources together, it encourages meaningful connections across generations and distances. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Self-reflection, Respect, and Kindness.
Team 19 | Mirror
MIRROR helps people practice difficult conversations through interactive roleplay, feedback, and perspective switching. By exploring how their words may come across to others, users can reflect on their responses and practice resolving conflict and repairing relationships. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Self-reflection, and Respect.
Team 21 | PonderSonder
PonderSonder helps blind and visually impaired runners navigate with greater confidence through real-time surroundings detection, spatial audio, and personalized guidance. Designed to identify potential obstacles and help athletes stay on course, it supports more accessible and independent exercise. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Compassion, and Kindness.
Team 22 | SyncNeighbor
SyncNeighbor connects families with a trusted circle of neighbors to coordinate everyday help, from school pickups to grocery runs. With shared availability, scheduling support, and parent-controlled sharing of children’s details, it makes giving and receiving help easier without fees or score-keeping. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Compassion, Respect, and Kindness.
Team 23 | Kinlii
This platform helps students meet through small groups centered on shared hobbies, from sports to creative activities. With student verification, activity discovery, and accessibility features, it makes connecting with others more approachable, especially for newcomers and those who prefer smaller gatherings. Humanity 101® Principles used here are – Empathy, Kindness, and Respect.
“Had an eye opening experience. Learnt a lot of things from the mentors. This is the first hackathon that showed me what mentoring really supposed be.”
“I love the fact that the hackathon does not heavily focus on the technical aspects of a solution.”
“Very welcoming for newcomers”
Participants compete for team prizes of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place as well as individual awards such as People’s Choice awards
Participant Requirements:
Sponsor
Supporter
Inquire about sponsorship opportunities at [email protected]
Mentors use their expertise to help teams spark creativity, generate ideas, problem solve, and develop final presentations.
Mentor Requirements
Volunteers participate in the event as a close observer while assisting Project Humanities team with event logistics. They can be anyone interested in assisting the Project Humanities team in various event logistics.
Volunteer Requirements
Jeanine Bashir is the Founder and CEO of Bashir & Associates and Founder of Harriet’s House AZ, bringing more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, community engagement, organizational strategy, and systems change. Her work focuses on supporting organizations and communities examining complex challenges and developing effective strategies that advance meaningful and sustainable social impact. Through Harriet’s House, she also works to advance maternal well-being, family stability, and community healing for justice-impacted women, youth, and families.
Dr. Loan Dao is a dentist, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and assisted living operator with more than 25 years of experience in healthcare and business. Her work spans healthcare, senior living, real estate, investing, and financial strategy. She brings a practical, people-first perspective shaped by years of building businesses, solving real-world problems, and caring for others.
Terrance Moore is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practitioner with a passion for building culture and community. He currently leads DEI efforts at The Athletic; with preceding experience at Adobe, The Atlantic, and the NFL. Terrance obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard University with a concentration in African American Studies, and a DEI certification from Cornell University.
– Sept 19, 2025
Arizona State University’s Project Humanities announces its 12th annual “Hacks for Humanity: Hacking for the Social Good,” taking place Friday, 10 October through Sunday, 12 October 2025, in Tempe, Arizona. This 36-hour hackathon welcomes not only tech enthusiasts but artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, educators, activists, students and community members to build digital solutions that address critical and timely social issues.
Unlike conventional hackathons typically reserved for computer programmers and developers, “Hacks for Humanity” invites participants from all backgrounds to contribute to creative problem-solving rooted in ASU Project Humanities’ core Humanity 101® principles: compassion, empathy, forgiveness, integrity, kindness, respect and self-reflection.… Read More
– May 28, 2026
More than 2.2 billion people globally live with vision impairment, and over 1.5 billion experience hearing loss.
I stepped into the Technology Student Association judging panel for the second year, this time evaluating High School students in the Software Development category. This year’s theme hit differently: Develop a software program that removes barriers and increases accessibility for people with vision or hearing disabilities.
The moment I read the prompt, I was instantly transported back 8 years, to a late-night hackathon at my alma mater, #HacksForHumanity by ASU Project Humanities. Fueled by Red Bull, too many slices of pizza, and ambitious ideas, my teammates and I were trying to solve a similar accessibility problem together, despite having only met a few hours earlier!
At the time, we thought we were doing something rare. Turns out, now high schoolers are doing it too, and doing it so well… Read More
– Shivam Dhar
