OC Tech Collective to Host Second Annual H.E.A.R.T. Event on December 2nd at Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group Facility

Unique Networking Opportunity and Fundraiser to Benefit Habitat for Humanity Orange County


COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 18, 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 the launch of its second Holiday Event and Annual Roundup of Technologists (H.E.A.R.T.) on Tuesday, December 2, 2003 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group facility at 7905 Gateway Avenue in the Irvine Spectrum. The event, which will take place in Ford's spectacular showroom, will serve as a unique networking opportunity for the area's technology business leaders, while raising much-needed funds for Habitat for Humanity Orange County's (HfHOC) Technology Initiative called Digital Bridge.

HfHOC's Technology Initiative provides affordable housing options to very low-income residents with increased access to basic technology instruction, technology-based work experience and online employment services. Working with the area's technology-based companies and organizations, the Digital Bridge program strives to help these families become active members of the digital world by supplying technology that meets industry standards and country/regional requirements, delivering consistent training and providing reliable, ongoing technological support through a national Help Desk.

The OC Tech Collective began its support of HfHOC's Technology Initiative last December by hosting the first H.E.A.R.T. event, raising over $9,000 for the project. The group aims to increase the attendance at this year's event in hopes of raising more money for HfHOC's Digital Bridge and leveraging its membership base to provide computer hardware, software, Internet access, hands-on technical support and training for the families.

"The holidays are a time to celebrate our blessings and give back to the community in ways that enhance the lives of those who live around us," said Cynthia Cotteta, who is chairing the planning committee for this year's H.E.A.R.T. event and serves as president of the Association for Women in Technology. "The OC Tech Collective is excited to present a classy event as a great opportunity for our community's technology leaders to come together, celebrate the season and raise money for HfHOC's Digital Bridge project."

Sponsors of this year's event include: Compuware Corporation, Preston Gates & Ellis LLP, FileNet Corporation, Verizon Wireless, Liberty IMS, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, iLeads.com, MSX International, Inc., Newport Beach Bacchus Society, VIRTUAL-IMAGE, Finance America, Orange County Business Journal, Bock Communications, Advanced-Media, Ballentyne, Inc., Wells Fargo, Media Communications Association International, VIOSS, Earth Transmission, Ascolta, VitalStream, D-Link and SmithMicro Software.

The OC Tech Collective is still seeking sponsors for this year's event. Sponsorship packages range from $250 to $3,000 and include exposure to more than 50,000 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 make a reservation at this year's H.E.A.R.T. event, send an email to RSVP@heartparty.com. You can read more about H.E.A.R.T. and the OC Tech Collective by visiting www.heartparty.com. To get involved with HfHOC's Digital Bridge, 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 100 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 Women in Technology (AWT), Digital Coast Roundtable (DCR), Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE), Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), Society for Internet Advancement (SIA-OC), Software Council of Southern California (SCSC), Southern California Venture Network (SCVN), Tech Coast Venture Network (TCVN) and Technology and Business Connections Forum (TBCF).


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Christine Bock or Jennifer Tolkachev
Bock Communications, Inc.
chrisbock@bockpr.com or jtolkachev@bockpr.com
Tel:  1-714-540-1030, extension 11 or 19