Smart Phone Scavenger Hunt Descends on San Francisco With Annual Tech Search Party for Alvarado Elementary School

SAN FRANCISCO--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Tech Search Party, San Francisco's premiere smart phone scavenger hunt, returns for its third annual event on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

“It's a great way to help our local schools raise much-needed dollars due to devastating state budge cuts to education. It also happens to be a blast.”

Tech Search Party lets participants 'Get Their Geek On' while trekking around San Francisco's Noe Valley with their phones and friends, all to improve the technology infrastructure at local educational institutions. Smart phones are a necessity, so Droids, Razrs, Galaxys, Rezounds, iPhones and iPads will be out in full force.

Event Details:

Date:		Saturday, February 4, 2012
Time:		5:15 to 8:00 pm
Location:		1220 Noe Street, at 25th Street
Fee:		$50 for teams of up to four; $75 for teams of up to six
Registration:		http://www.techsearchparty.com/ with on-site registration also available

"The Tech Search Party scavenger hunt is Bay to Breakers crossed with a Mensa meeting," according to event organizer Tim Smith. "It's a great way to help our local schools raise much-needed dollars due to devastating state budge cuts to education. It also happens to be a blast."

Tech Search Party is a smart phone scavenger hunt ideally suited for the gadget-savvy. Deciphering enigmatic clues leads teams to various locations throughout Noe Valley. When teams find the clues, they simply notify event organizers and move on to the next. The first team to discover all clues or the team with the most clues after two hours will hold bragging rights throughout all geekdom and win prizes such as:

Coffee & Power gift certificates
Case of Cole Hardware wine. Really.
Plantronics headsets
Seesaw gift certificates
Copies of The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness
Sifteo Cubes
Sports Basement gift certificates

PG&E Corporate Challenge

This year marks the introduction of the PG&E Corporate Challenge. For businesses that wish to participate as a group, Pacific Gas & Electric has formed it's own team and challenged other organizations to participate in Tech Search Party. Teams registering for the PG&E Corporate Challenge pay a higher registration fee, but are eligible for cash prizes courtesy of PG&E. The winning team from the PG&E Corporate Challenge will win $250. To register for the corporate challenge, business can register at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/508624309

All proceeds raised go directly to local public school PTAs. Participating schools are Alvarado Elementary School, James Lick Middle School, and Marshall Elementary School.

Below are comments from Tech Search Party sponsors and supporters:

"San Francisco is the innovation capital of the world, and I’m delighted to support the Tech Search Party as an innovative event that highlights our need to support education through creative public and private partnerships." San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

"This will be the third time I've been able to help spread the word about Tech Search Party. It's encouraging to see the community and sponsors rally behind the event in order to improve our schools." Scott Weiner, San Francisco Supervisor, District 8

"As a former Board of Education member and youth service provider, I'm excited to support Tech Search Party. To be able to provide much-needed funds for schools in Districts 6 and 8, while also delivering an entertaining evening for participants is no small feat. I encourage everyone to join in." Jane Kim, San Francisco Supervisor, District 6

"Many Googlers call Noe Valley and the Mission home, so we are very pleased to be involved for the third consecutive year in such an ingenious and fun education fundraiser as Tech Search Party." Veronica Bell, Google

“Wyse Technology is very passionate about improving the technology tools available to students and teachers. Tech Search Party is a unique opportunity to help out underfunded public schools while having some fun at the same time.” Jeff McNaught, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Wyse Technology

"The entire WIRED family prides itself on living on the front lines of technology and culture, and Tech Search Party is exactly that. This event delivers the innovation of Silicon Valley to help support public education in San Francisco." Evan Hansen, Editor in Chief, Wired.com

“Tech Search Party is a perfect mash-up of technology, fun and fundraising. This is a great way to use smartphones and tablets to support our public schools.” Kevin Zavaglia, region president for Verizon Wireless

"One of our founding principals is to give back to the communities in which we conduct business, and Tech Search Party is a great opportunity to give back to San Francisco citizens, educators and students. Circle Bank has supported Tech Search Party since it's inception and we're happy to be associated with such an exciting way to help local schools." Kimberly A. Kaselionis, President & CEO, Circle Bank

"PG&E is excited to kick off the PG&E Corporate Challenge at this year's Tech Search Party. It's a great event for a great cause, and we are looking forward to participating, and hopefully encouraging other organizations to take part." Ontario Smith, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

For more detail on sponsorship opportunities, or to learn more about Tech Search Party, please visit www.techsearchparty.com