A nonprofit dedicated to reducing — and hopefully eliminating — the gender gap in technology received a charitable donation from CompTIA’s Communities and Councils that will help spread its egalitarian message outside the mid-Atlantic region.
“We will impact over 1,500 girls in just this school year alone and could not do it without your support,” said Tracey Welson-Rossman, CMO at Chariot Solutions and founder of Philadelphia-based TechGirlz, which helps adolescent girls understand that a future in technology doesn’t mean a traditional computer job.
“This contribution is incredibly valuable to us and will help us expand our ability to work with girls to inspire them to look at technology for their careers,” she said. The group is projected to work with 1,500 middle school girls this school year and expand outside of Philadelphia with its TechShopz in a Box initiative, thanks to donations from CompTIA, underwritten by the Creating IT Futures Foundation.
Technology Transcends the Cubicle
Through workshops and an annual entrepreneurial summer camp, TechGirlz gives middle-school girls hands-on experience with different kinds of technology and encourages young women interact with female role models who have carved out successful careers in technology fields.
Like CompTIA’s AWIT Community, TechGirlz spreads the message that technology transcends the cubicle into nearly every field imaginable.
“TechGirlz and the Advancing Women in IT Community share a common passion that there is a very rewarding place for women and girls in the IT industry,” said Cristina Greysman, director of channel program management at Sungard Availability Services, and an AWIT executive committee member. “We are so excited to be partnering to bring this message to a wider audience and in creative ways.”
Greysman delivered a check for $5,000 on behalf of AWIT, while Greg Plum of
PlumUC and Guy Yasika of Alteva — both members of CompTIA’s Telecom Advisory Council — delivered a $7,500 check on behalf of the CompTIA Advisory Councils.
How is TechGirlz helping prepare young women for careers in technology? Find out in this 30-minute webinar featuring TechGirlz founder Welson-Rossman and CompTIA’s vice president of channel strategies, Annette Taber. Listen to the 30-minute presentation here.
CompTIA Donations
Each year, CompTIA member communities make donations to IT-related charities. Money for the donations comes from the Creating IT Futures Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CompTIA. In 2014, TechGirlz received $12,500, and it’s not the first time the group has been chosen to receive charitable donations from CompTIA. In 2013 the organization received a total of $10,000 from the Cloud Community and CompTIA’s Advisory Councils, and in 2012 TechGirlz received $5,000 from AWIT.
“We are grateful to CompTIA for its generous donations of both time and money to TechGirlz,” said Welson-Rossman.
Michelle Peterson is a communications specialist for CompTIA.
