ITWomen's CIO Poker Tournament Raises $70,000 for IT Scholarships

FRAMINGHAM, MA--(Marketwire - Dec 19, 2012) - A record breaking $70,000 in scholarship funds was raised at ITWomen's 2012 Celebrity CIO Poker Tournament and Casino Night Scholarship Fundraiser. The popular event held November 15, 2012 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, topped off the organization's 10th Anniversary celebration. The CIO Executive Council has been partnering with ITWomen since 2008 and was a proud sponsor of this year's fundraising success.

ITWomen, a Florida-based organization founded by senior women in the technology industry, has raised $320,000 and awarded 59 four-year renewable scholarships in the past eight years through its annual fundraiser that centers on the CIO community. "These scholarship contributions make a profound impact," said ITWomen president Victoria Usherenko. "The ITWomen scholarships open the door for IT opportunity and advancement and help close the gender gap in the technology and engineering fields."

One of the most powerful moments of the evening was when Sol Escobar, 2008 recipient of an ITWomen four-year renewable scholarship, told fundraiser attendees how important it was to have the ITWomen scholarship and networking support throughout her college years. The 4th year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Miami will begin her technology career in Cincinnati with Proctor & Gamble in 2013.

"ITWomen and the CIO Executive Council share a commitment to the advancement of women in leadership," said Pamela Stenson, senior vice president and general manager of the CIO Executive Council, and the chair of the Council's Executive Women in IT (EWIT) program. "We strive to empower young people at entrance of their careers to boost confidence in their abilities, as well as encourage senior leaders to give back. The EWIT program provides a cross-industry community of executive women who are taking charge of their professional career development."

ITWomen's record breaking poker tournament and casino night fundraiser attracted 22 participating CIOs, with some attendees flying in from India, California, Virginia, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and Idaho to support the event.

Scholarship donations go to ITWomen's Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that operates the scholarship program. Applicants must be females graduating from a South Florida high school with plans for earning degrees in a technology or engineering field. Recipients have attended Florida's major universities as well as MIT, Princeton, Tuskegee, Georgia Institute of Technology and many others.

About CIO Executive Council

The CIO Executive Council is a member-led executive organization of global business leaders working to drive value from the intersection of business, information technology and strategy. Through peer reliance, collaboration and outreach, members apply the knowledge, insights and best practices of their peers to the success of their enterprises and their own personal achievement. Launched in April 2004, by the parent organization of CIO magazine, the Council is comprised of hundreds of the world's leading chief information officers. To learn more about CIO Executive Council, please visit their website at http://council.cio.com/. The CIO Executive Council is part of IDG Enterprise, an International Data Group company. Company information is available at http://idgenterprise.com.

About ITWomen

ITWomen is the premier South Florida-based organization dedicated to the advancement, advocacy, and development of professional women in technology and engineering. Its Role Model Speakers program encourages girls 8 to 18 to consider technology and engineering careers, and its scholarships support young women pursuing engineering and technology degrees.