More than $72,000 in cash and 36 pounds of food were collected during the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council鈥檚 annual food bank challenge over the Christmas season.
In it 18th year, the annual event once again pitted tech company against tech company in a series of challenges and events to raise money for the Mustard Seed Street Church and its food bank.
The challenge, which this year drew in 28 competing tech firms, focused on raising cash rather than food because the Mustard Seed, through its partnerships with local suppliers, buys more food per dollar than donating individuals can on their own.
Since its inception in 2002, 鈥媡he challenge has raised nearly $2.4 million in cash and food for the organization.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a particularly tough year for many in our community and it is a privilege to witness and support our members in doing what they can to give back and support those that need it the most,鈥� said VIATEC chief executive Dan Gunn.
鈥淲e鈥檝e heard personal stories from members that have at one time needed the support of local food banks, and to see them get creative and pull together their colleagues to make a difference overwhelms us with admiration and pride. The fact that they exceeded last year鈥檚 donations (which were the highest in recent memory), in such uncertain times is a credit to their love of this community and generosity.鈥�
Last year the challenge raised $70,000.
The top overall contributor this year was 鈥婼tarFish Medical, followed by 鈥婩reshWorks Studio鈥� and 鈥婥heckfront鈥�, while Echosec Systems鈥� raised the most per employee at $318 per person.
