It'll be HOT on Sunday Evening at DAC

For several DACs now, Heart of Technology (HOT) has run a party on Monday night. This year there is a HOT party...but it is on Sunday night after the DAC welcome reception. Heart of Technology is a philanthropic organization started by Jim Hogan, who was a VP at Cadence for many years.

HOT 55 Party

This year's HOT event is called the HOT 55 Party, since it is the 55th DAC, and the goal is to raise $55,000, which is the biggest fundraising goal in HOT history. The party honors Gary Smith and the money goes to the Gary Smith Memorial Scholarship Endowment which gives and award to one student annually participating in the San Jose State University Educational Opportunity Program's Guardian Scholars Program. This servers youth emancipated from foster care, wards of court, or similarly disadvantaged. Every dollar raised helps send underprivileged youth to college.

The entire evening will take place on the 3rd floor mezzanine of Moscone West (where DAC is held this year):

6:00 - 7:00pm Cocktails & Conversation
7:00 - 7:30pm Needham Presentation Rich Valera, Managing Director, Equity Research
7:30 - 7:45pm Welcome Remarks
7:45 - 9:15pm Vista Roads Band
9:15 - 9:30pm Heads or Tales Game with the Big Kahuna
9:30 - 10:30pm Methodics Ensemble
10:30pm Time for bed

There will be the inaugural HERO award, presented by Jim Hogan himself. There will be live music by Vista Roads Band (with lead guitar...Jim Hogan) and the Methodics Ensemble. You just need to show up. There is no entry fee. No pre-registration is required. But please give generously, our industry only does this once a year.

Heart of Technology

A couple of years ago I talked to Jim about when and how (and why) he started HOT.

It started in 2007, at the depths of the recession, when a lot of people were struggling. I'd previously given money to San Jose State, my alma mater, but decided that maybe prioritizing getting people food was more important. I also realized that a lot of good causes, such as the food banks, were just not well equipped to put on significantly sized events. But the EDA and IP industries do it all the time. I knew lots of marketing people in the EDA and IP industries who knew the ropes, plus I knew lots of musicians (including myself) to provide the entertainment. In that sense, HOT is a sort of "charity accelerator". 

HOT has served as a fundraising accelerator for charities for nearly ten years now. Led Jim Hogan, but with the assistance of many other industry professionals, the Heart of Technology assists non-profits by helping them raise money for causes that strengthen communities and help people going through difficult life transitions. In the past money has been donated to CASA of Travis County (Austin), The Gary Smith Memorial Endowment was created a couple of years ago. If you don't know much about Gary Smith, then read my post In Memoriam Gary Smith.

Last Year

For the last two years, DAC has been in Austin. The HOT party was at the Speakeasy. Here is a picture of the VIsta Roads Band performing, with Jim on vocals.

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