COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 10, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The OC Tech Collective, a consortium of local, leading not-for-profit technology associations supporting broader access to technology across all social and economic groups, today announced that Habitat for Humanity Orange County (HfHOC) will be honored by Habitat for Humanity International (HfHI) for its 100th home built in the County. HfHI has designated Orange County's 100th Habitat home as the 1,000th Habitat home built in the state of California. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 11, 2003 at 11:00 a.m. at the site of the home, which is located at 1925 Pomona Street in Costa Mesa.
The designated home is part of HfHOC's Technology Project, an effort to provide affordable housing options to very low-income residents with increased access to basic technology instruction, technology-based work experience, online employment services and more. The OC Tech Collective began its involvement with HfHOC's Technology Project last December by hosting the Holiday Event and Annual Roundup of Technologists (H.E.A.R.T.), a fundraiser to support the implementation of technology to benefit the region's underserved communities. The event raised over $9,000 for the project. The OC Tech Collective is planning another H.E.A.R.T. event to take place on December 2, 2003 in Irvine. The group aims to increase the attendance at this year's event in hopes of raising more money for HfHOC's Technology Project and leveraging its membership base to provide hands-on technical support and training for the families.
"Orange County is the first technology region in the country to support Habitat's Technology Initiative, and the OC Tech Collective is pleased to drive this effort on a local basis. We are working hard to plan and host a classy, fun holiday celebration for our county's technology business community," said Cynthia Cotteta, who is chairing the planning committee this year's H.E.A.R.T. event and serves as president of the Association for Women in Technology. "The goal of this year's event is to provide an excellent networking opportunity for the area's technology leaders, while raising money for this great cause."
The OC Tech Collective is currently seeking sponsors for this year's event. Sponsorship packages range from $250 to $3,000 and include exposure to a contact list of more than 150,000 technology and business professionals in Southern California. For more information about sponsorship opportunities for H.E.A.R.T., please contact Annette Smith at (714) 307-0600 or Bob Newkirk at (949) 400-8448. To learn more about HfHOC's Technology Project, please watch the video link at http://mediaconsole.net/HeartFund.vsml?package=7270 or to get involved, please contact Kenneth Knapp at (949) 294-0403.
About Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Inc.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County (HfHOC) uses non-government donations of funding, materials, professional services and volunteer labor to build simple, decent homes which are sold to qualified very low-income families for a one percent down payment and a zero-interest mortgage. Habitat families contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the program by building their own home, helping another Habitat family build it's home, or working in some other area of the Habitat organization. Habitat for Humanity has built 99 homes in Orange County since 1988.
About Orange County Technology Collective
The Orange County Technology Collective is a council of leading not-for-profit technology associations leveraging the power of its members to spearhead charitable programs that accelerate broader access to technology across all social and economic groups. Its representatives include members of the American Electronics Association (AeA), Association for Internet Professionals (AIP-OC), Association for Women in Technology (AWT), Digital Coast Roundtable (DCR), Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE), Society for Internet Advancement (SIA-OC), Software Council of Southern California (SCSC), Southern California Venture Network (SCVN) and Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN). For more information about the OC Tech Collective and H.E.A.R.T., please visit www.avalonmedia.com/heart.htm.