Grace Hopper Celebration Cancelled as Funding Falls Short
AnitaB.org has cancelled this year's Grace Hopper Celebration in Anaheim, citing registration and sponsorship revenue far below what was needed to cover operating expenses. The organization apologized for the disruption to attendees' travel, hotel, and visa plans, and said it will contact registrants about refunds by October 26. CEO Brenda Darden Wilkerson said the shortfall has hurt finances and that strategic alternatives for future programming are being evaluated.
GHC has always been about more than a place or a moment on the calendar. It is about a community that has spent decades opening doors, expanding opportunity, and making sure women technologists have a voice in shaping the future of technology.
- cmiles8
Sad to see this canceled and especially at the last minute.
Since DEI imploded most companies won’t touch anything with a 100 ft pole that looks like it might go anywhere near that, and seems like that didn’t help on funding and sponsors.
This always seemed like a good event and only ever heard positive things about it. The controversies and scandals surrounding DEI were not about this, and thus it would appear this may be collateral damage.
- badc0ffee
Interesting perspective that doesn't blame the downfall of DEI initiatives, or reluctance to travel to the US: https://www.reddit.com/r/womenintech/comments/1x4kilp/commen...
It sounds like this conference had been going downhill for a few years.
- gmerc
You don't want to run afoul of Agent Orange by celebrating a woman so close to his coronation
- grahar64
Is it because international registrations were down. I know that I am dodging US travel ATM
- beej71
Ugh. A bunch of our students already booked travel and rooms. What a horrible situation all around.
- roughly
Some of the best hires I ever made came through GHC - truly a sad day.
- chasil
For as much COBOL as my (former) coworkers use every day, they should bankroll her day.
- wolfi1
I have to admit, I suspected the Secretary of War cancelled the funding