May 3, 2012

Charleston Digital Corridor Innovators 5k Race Proceeds Support Local Education

Charleston Digital Corridor Release

Charleston, South Carolina – May 3, 2012–The Digital Corridor Foundation is pleased to announce that all proceeds from the 2012Innovators' 5K (iFive:K) will be used to support education and entrepreneurship programming at public institutions in the Charleston area. The iFive:K, an annual event capped at 750 participants, brings together Charleston's knowledge-based business community for an evening of spirited competition and networking. This year's event raised $12,000.

With the Digital Corridor's workforce development strategy focused on high-wage job growth, specific commitments have already been made by the Digital Corridor to include the "Women in Charge" program at the Charleston County School District.

"The influence of the Digital Corridor's businesses working with Women in Charge students has opened up new possibilities to them. This year, they began with little or no understanding of the business and technological world. My students are now seeking out opportunities and asking about ways to take courses in programming, creating apps, engineering solutions to problems they see. They have become empowered knowing there is a place for them in the digital business world," said Millibeth Currie.

Today, the Digital Corridor is also pleased to announce of six (6) scholarships for students from public schools interested in pursuing computer code classes through the CODEcamp initiative beginning May 14th, 2012. "Since there is no age limit for the year-round CODEcamp, students from high school to college are welcome to apply for the classes," said Ernest Andrade, Digital Corridor Director.

In 2011, Charleston ranked as the 11th best performing economy in the country according to Forbes Magazine and the Milken Institute. "I am confident our economic rankings will continue ascending by building upon the skills of our citizens, especially in the area of technical (STEM) education," said Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
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About the Innovators' 5K (iFive:K)
The iFive:K is an annual event that brings together Charleston's knowledge-based business community for an evening of spirited competition and networking. All proceeds from the iFive:K are used to support educational and entrepreneurship programming through the Digital Corridor Scholarship Fund. More: www.ifivek.com.

About the Charleston Digital Corridor
The Digital Corridor is a creative initiative to attract, nurture and promote Charleston's knowledge economy through a combination of technology-enabled initiatives and business incentives, private business support and member-driven programming. To learn more, visit www.charlestondigitalcorridor.com.

Contact:
Ernest Andrade
843.724.3773 p | 843.607.1264 c
ernest@charlestondigitalcorridor.com