Love IP Party at DAC 2015

Once again there is a Heart of Technology event at DAC. It is the Love IP Party on Monday evening. Full details at the end of this entry, but first a bit of context. Heart of Technology was started by Jim Hogan who probably doesn’t need much introduction to anyone who has worked in EDA for any length of time.

I met with Jim, along with Randy Smith and Jill Jacobs, to talk about Heart of Technology and why Jim started it. He said it started in 2007 at the depths of the recession when a lot of people were struggling. Jim had previously given money to San Jose State (his alma mater) but decided that maybe prioritizing getting people food was more important. He also realized that a lot of good causes, such as the food banks, were just not well-equipped to put on significant sized events, whereas Jim knew lots of marketing people in the EDA and IP industries who knew the ropes, plus he knew lots of musicians, including himself, to provide the entertainment. It that sense HOT is a sort of “charity accelerator.”

As Jim puts it:At the heart of technology are people with passion for innovation and change. HOT harnesses that power to go beyond code and silicon and fund programs to help raise awareness of charitable causes that add to the betterment of life in local communities.

So the first event was held at South First Billiards in San Jose to raise money for Second Harvest Food Bank. Subsequent events have benefited Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Travis County TX (DAC was in Austin that year, which is in Travis County), CASA of San Francisco, a luau at Jim’s house that benefited FleaHab Sober Living Environment of Santa Cruz County. Most recently there was a Rock for CASA holiday event held at Ken Potts’ Doc Auto in Santa Cruz, this time to benefit CASA of Santa Cruz Country. In total over $100,000 dollars has been raised to benefit local charities.

HoT is not just a one-man operation. Now many other people are involved to organize and publicize the events, and a whole group of EDA and IP companies sponsor the events.
This years DAC event will be on Monday 8th of June from 7-11.30pm. It will be at Jillian’s, which is in the corner of the Metreon just opposite Moscone West. The party features fabulous food and an open bar with 17 microbrews on tap and specialty cocktails.

Jillian’s also has lots of pool tables, in fact the largest number in San Francisco, so there will also be the first Spyglass Pool Competition. To enter go to the Atrenta booth earlier in the day and pay your $20 entrance fee.

And that is not the only competition. There will also be a costume contenst. Wear your grooviest outfit and show off your Summer of Love style! Prizes to the hippest outfits. So get your hippie vibe on along with your Birkenstocks and join the fun on stage. Special recognition for original clothes of the day.

[TABLE] align=”center” style=”width: 500px”
|-
| 7pm
| Doors Open
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| 7-7.45
| The Sonics on stage with cool jazz
|-
| 7.30
| Pool tournament starts, silent auction starts
|-
| 7.45
| Welcome
|-
| 8-8.45
| Groovy Love brings the party on stage
|-
| 8.45-9.05
| Summer of love lookalike and costume contest
|-
| 9.05-9.30
| Heads tales games with the Big Kahuna
|-
| 9.30-10.15
| Groovy Love back on stage
|-
| 10.30
| Announcement of pool competion winners
|-
| 11.30
| Event ends
|-

This year the event will benefit the San Jose State University Guardian Scholars Program which helps kids who are coming out of the foster care program with nothing, and want to attend college (well, specifically SJSU). As they say on their web page:The SJSU Guardian Scholars Program (GSP), part of the Educational Opportunity Program, is committed to helping students exiting the foster care system, wards of the court, under legal guardianship or unaccompanied homeless youth. Our mission is to guide determined and ambitious Guardian Scholars through their academic and personal journeys by providing comprehensive support.

Please join our generous sponsors and distinguished guests at the Love IP Party. Entry is open to all DAC attendees, but a donation of $50 or more to the Guardian Program at San Jose State University will ensure you a spot at the party. Guests who have provided donations are assured entry into the party and will receive a one-of-a-kind event t-shirt.

More details on the SJSU Guardian Scholars Program is here.
The Love IP Party page with full details is here.

Peace, love and IP. Groovy baby.