Times Square Million Dollar Billboard Campaign For Women Going Into Tech
Minneapolis Businessmen Raise Awareness and Offer Scholarship Opportunities for Women Pursuing Computer Science Related Fields
MINNEAPOLIS, April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Picture yourself in bustling Times Square. John Marino and Zulfikar Ali are proud to announce a new campaign that will soon light up Times Square in New York City. The "Times Square Million Dollar Billboard Campaign" will illuminate downtown NYC starting July 1 through July 14. The main goal is to shine light on an even bigger topic: supporting young women pursuing a degree in the tech industry.
"We are excited to bring this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Times Square," said Marino. "Both Zulfikar and I recognize a need to raise awareness in the ever growing gap for women in technology. Now, young women are showing interest in the tech industry and we want to help them excel."
There is a massive gender gap in the technology industry, and both Marino and Ali recognize that. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be more than 1.4 million S.T.E.M. jobs available in 2020. Yet, women only make up a quarter of that workforce. Marino and Ali are asking businesses, leaders and individuals within the tech industry to join them in giving more scholarships to young women who want to go into the field.
Both Marino and Ali have more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry. Ali started a foundation in 2014, "The FutureNow Foundation," in his home country of Bangladesh, as a way to inspire young women pursuing S.T.E.M. education.
"It is important to make education more accessible and valued amongst women across all nations," said Ali. "Both John and I realize that creating more opportunities for women in computer science is important to closing the gap in our industry."
The inspiration for the "Times Square Million Dollar Billboard Campaign" stems from the success of Million Dollar Home Page, which raised more than a million dollars selling pixels on Alex Tew's website in the UK in 2007.
People can purchase one of 1,600 tiles for a billboard, something that will be seen by millions of tourists and residents. The cost for each tile starts at $100. Each tile is 1' x 1' on a 40' x 40' billboard in Times Square. The tile will appear for 30 seconds every hour, 24 hours a day, for two weeks. People are encouraged to take a "selfie" with the hashtag #GETIT (Girls Excel Together In Tech) or upload their company logo to show unity for this cause.
Both Marino and Ali want to extend an invitation to all tech companies, leaders and people in related fields to join the "Times Square Million Dollar Billboard Campaign" by using social media to spread the word and visiting the website. Please visit: www.timessquaremilliondollarbillboard.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150417/199383
SOURCE John Marino
Related Links
http://www.timessquaremilliondollarbillboard.com
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