AUSTIN, TEXAS, USA (June 5, 2015) — The Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®) being held June 15-18, 2015, produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), is organizing several avenues for exhibitors and attendees to donate monetary funds to the United Way for Greater Austin. These efforts will be the basis of HITEC Helps, HFTP/HITEC’s way of giving back to the community. All donations to the United Way for Greater Austin will go towards helping those victims affected by the Memorial Day flooding devastation in and around Austin, Texas, USA, the host city of HITEC 2015.
The Greater Austin/Central Texas, USA, area was devastated over the last few weeks by floods that killed many people and caused millions of dollars in damage. The “Memorial Day Floods” were so devastating that the major lake in the area, Lake Travis, has risen almost forty feet (twelve meters). Flood victims have found themselves in dire need of assistance as philanthropic organizations depleted most of their reserves to assist in feeding, rescuing, clothing, and counseling those who have lost family, jobs and homes.
“HITEC Helps is one vehicle we use to help those in our industry and in our communities,” explains HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE. “HITEC Helps 2015 is particularly close to our heart since HFTP is headquartered in Austin and many individuals close to us were affected. We are asking attendees to donate at least the cost of one cup of coffee or one drink to the cause. Collectively, that will make a huge difference to the flood victims and Central Texas philanthropic organizations and help us make our goal of five figures in donations.”
Blueprint RF, a HITEC 2015 exhibiting company from Atlanta, Georgia, USA, was the first donor to the fund and has been a major supporter of HITEC Helps efforts to organize donation efforts.
“We are excited to be able to work with HFTP’s marketing team to help coordinate a charitable challenge to benefit the Central Texas Memorial Day Flood Victims”, said Ron Peterson, CEO, Blueprint RF. “Hopefully, our combined efforts will make a major difference and we are privileged for the opportunity to work with HFTP and the United Way for Greater Austin to help those in need.”
Exhibitors, attendees and any other individuals interested will have the option of donating via check or cash at the HITEC registration counter and HFTP or online through a custom page designed by the United Way for Greater Austin. In addition, HFTP will also raffle a stainless steel Apple Watch and all of the proceeds from the raffle tickets will be donated to the disaster recovery fund. At the Closing Keynote Session of HITEC 2015 on Thursday, June 18, all of the proceeds collected will be presented to representatives of the United Way for Greater Austin at the Austin Convention Center.
In order to make a donation immediately, please go to this link: uwatx.org/hitec
