TechPong has grown into one of our favourite annual events.
Beyond the cool prizes, hilarious themed outfits, and outrageous amounts of fun had by all at Vancouver’s largest tech fundraiser, there is no better way for companies large and small to come together and celebrate the joy of “building the brighter future we all imagine,” as host Charitable Impact puts it. Having fun is great, but having fun and doing good is about as great as it gets.
For a team to qualify for the tournament it must raise a minimum of $2,000 for its charity of choice through the online platform operated by Charitable Impact (formerly CHIMP). This allows one player to be entered into the singles tournament, and two players into the doubles tournament. According to the online “Participants Leaderboard,” 15 companies have already met or exceeded this fundraising goal.
That’s where the friendly competition kicks in. When we last checked, the hosts topped the leaderboard with $3,305 (and counting) raised. Hot on their heels was Galvanize, which had raised $2,560 for KidSafe, a charity that provides 450 vulnerable children and youth with the safety, nutrition, and educational programming during school breaks. Team Pixieset rounded out the Top 3, having already accepted $2,380 in donations for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
There was no shortage of ping pong ballers ready to jump onto the podium, however, with Allocadia, Bananatag, Beanworks, Blender Media, Buyatab, and Propel Solutions all rounding out the Top 9, and six more companies vying to break into the Top 10 with $2,000 raised apiece.
A major shakeup may soon be coming to the leaderboard, however, with heavy-hitters such as Colliers International, Microsoft, Samsung, and Vanhack expected to reveal their qualifying totals any day now.
And not a moment too soon. Based on the event’s stellar showing in 2018, Charitable Impact raised the fundraising bar to record levels this year, and while TechPong 2019 is well on its way to reaching its $100,000 goal, more companies need to step up ASAP.
In 2013, the team at Charitable Impact used their collective imaginations to conjure up a unique fundraising concept that would unite the tech community. Six years later, TechPong is set to push its fundraising total over the $400,000 mark, with hundreds of executives and employees from dozens of companies raring to do battle at Science World on Thursday, November 7th.
For more information and to sign up, click here.