VICTORIA – The 13th Annual VIATEC Food Bank Challenge was a very exciting and eventful one. A total of $73,584.00 in cash was raised in 4 short weeks from November 9th to December 4th, bringing the final 2015 total to more than $125,000. Since its inception, the Challenge has raised more than $1,978,000.
VIATEC decided to run the 2015 challenge last February as a way of bringing in donations past the holiday giving season. This brought in approximately $47,100. in cash and 1790 pounds of food for the Mustard Seed Food Bank. With the Mustard Seed’s buying power, the donation amount nearly doubles to more than $245,000. It was an excellent effort, but VIATEC felt the tech community could do even more so the challenge was brought back to it’s original November time slot in hopes of meeting a goal of $100,000.
“I decided to up the ante by announcing I’d get a tattoo of our logo if this goal was met,” commented Dan Gunn, VIATEC’s CEO. “I knew there would be a good chance it would happen as our technology community really comes together when it comes to worthy causes like this. So, I’ve been mentally preparing just in case.”
Unexpectedly, last Friday saw an above average surge in donations following a radio prank earlier that day on CBC Radio. “On the Island” show host Gregor Craigie was duped by an imposter claiming to be VIATEC CEO Dan Gunn. The prankster ended the interview by using extremely profane language to describe an elaborate tattoo that he claimed Dan was going to get in recognition of the extensive cash donations. “I promised I would get a tattoo of the VIATEC logo if we hit $100,000 in donations but nobody in their right mind would consider getting a tattoo of what was described on CBC!” proclaimed Dan.
The CBC immediately acknowledged their error and apologized to their concerned and upset listeners. In the end, VIATEC members decided to not let the prank detract from this worthy cause and instead increased their efforts adding to the overall total.
13th Annual VIATEC Food Bank Challenge Participants and Contributors:
- Avocette
- AXYS Technologies
- Carmanah Technologies
- FTS (Forest Technology Systems)
- GlobalWide Media
- Isolation Network/INgrooves
- Planet Clean
- Red Brick Media
- Redlen Technologies
- RevenueWire
- Schneider Electric
- Simply Rooted Media
- Smart Dolphins
- StarFish Medical
- UNIT4
- Vigil Health Solutions
- xMatters
- AOT Technologies
- Heart Pharmacy
- Latitude Geographics
- RingPartner
