CHICAGO, June 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For Techweek, the world's largest community-driven tech entrepreneurship conference and media platform, 2017 has been a standout year, defined by setting multiple ambitious goals and achieving them, all before the second half of the year. Techweek is proud to announce that it has officially achieved Public Benefit Corporation status on Thursday, June 22, while also raising more than $1 million for its 2017 fundraiser, Techweek Gives.
In order for Techweek to continue its mission of spreading tech entrepreneurship across each of its nine markets, Techweek CEO Amanda Signorelli and her team have officially transitioned the company into a Public Benefit Corporation, creating a governance foundation with a clear, dual-purpose mandate. Implementing a fiduciary framework like this enables Techweek to achieve higher standards in community engagement, technical performance, accountability and transparency, while also indicating Techweek's growth and ambition for the future.
"As a Public Benefit Corporation, myself and the Techweek team are empowered to invest more resources into the conference's mission," said Signorelli. "We're thrilled to have attained this status and contribute further to the community."
Continuing the trend of meeting and exceeding ambitious goals, in March 2017, Techweek sought to help local, high-growth companies acquire new talent by uniting with local tech companies to launch a $1 million giving campaign, Techweek Gives. Joining forces with companies such as uBack, Walker Sands Communications, DLA Piper, and others, Techweek launched this first-of-its-kind, 90-day campaign to raise $1 million for S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) efforts and other nonprofits in the months leading up to Techweek Chicago. With companies such as KCura, Synap, 1871, Raise and many others donating money and goods throughout the campaign, as well as volunteering their time, Techweek is proud to announce the final totals raised: $496,733 in cash, $1,138,311-worth of goods given, 11,148 hours volunteered, and held three community events.
"Thanks to uBack and our corporate sponsors, we were able to blow our original goal out of the water," said Signorelli. "We hope that the money and goods raised, plus all of the time volunteered, will help make a profound impact on the Chicago tech community. It is our hope to continue to fundraise like this in years to come."
Techweek Chicago 2017 is one of nine conferences across North America, with other cities such as Washington DC, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. For more details about Techweek Chicago, to purchase tickets or to find out more about other events throughout the country, visit www.techweek.com.
SOURCE Techweek