BizNet OnLine Magazine, Micrografx Chili for Children Cook-Off

The Chili Is Coming! The Chili Is Coming!

Or,

How Micrografx Started The Now Famous Chili Cook-Off.

If you read any computer-related magazines, by now you are once again seeing those ads for one of Comdex's biggest events: The Micrografx Chili for Children Cook-Off (http://www.micrografx.com/chili/default.asp). But what do you really know about it?

Micrografx (http://www.micrografx.com) goes way back to the beginning days of the personal computer market. Back to the days when MS-DOS was the new hot ticket. Founded in 1982, Micrografx fast became known for one of their first products, Picture Publisher.

Now in 1999, Micrografx, in their own words, has grown into a global leader in the development, marketing and support of intelligent graphics software for process management, network design and enterprise graphics. The company's U.S. operations are based in Allen, Texas, with several U.S. development offices, seven international subsidiaries, and four international representative agent offices. But...

This is not a story about the success of a company. It is the story of two individuals that did something because it felt right in their heart, not in their wallets. It was not done for the growth of the company, it was done to save the children.

Back in 1991, Paul and George Grayson, the founders of Micrografx, founded a new tradition in the world of computers. This was the year the first Micrografx Chili for Children Cook-Off took place. It was also one of the catalysts for the high tech industry to take a look at itself and what it was giving back to the community. The current list of sponsors now reads like a who's' who of the high tech world. All thanks to two guys just trying to do the right thing.

Just like the rise of so many early high tech startup companies, the Micrografx Chili for Children Cook-Off has risen to great heights. Every year for the last three years the event has raised $500,000.00 per year. For the first cook-off, Ms. Kate Potts, an employee at Micrografx, volunteered to help organize the cook off. Today it is her full-time job.

To date the Cook-Off has helped raise over $3.2 million in cash and in-kind services.

The beneficiary of these funds is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) http://www.missingkids.org/.

¨ A computer network, linking NCMEC with 50 missing children state clearinghouses, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, INTERPOL, the United Kingdom, US Secret Service and US Department of State allowing the instant transmission of images and information.

¨ A missing and exploited child image database, that may be searched by sex, age, height, weight, eye or hair color, etc., enabling NCMEC to create posters in-house and disseminate them in minutes.

¨ An imaging and identification network for computer age progressions of long-term missing children and facial reconstruction of unidentified deceased children (to date 180 children have been recovered, 11 deceased children identified ), and imaging sites have been established not only in the U.S. but worldwide.

¨ A multimedia application to transmit images and information using full motion video, a touch-screen, and audio to high-traffic locations across the country.

¨ A case analysis unit utilizing a geographic information system to plot leads in a visual display and perform link and pattern analysis down to the street and block level.

¨ A national missing children's web site, http://www.missingkids.com, now receiving more than 2 million hits per day; and a CyberTipline, http://www.missingkids.com/cybertip, which was called upon by Vice President Al Gore to become the "911" for the Internet and was launched by the Center in 1998 to receive leads regarding child exploitation online.

As we said above, the Micrografx Chili for Children Cook-Off was started from the heart, not the wallet. To help save children, and that it has. In fact, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) (http://www.missingkids.org) has handled 1,300,927 hotline calls, worked over 64,114 cases, and played a role in the recovery of over 44,703 children.

We are tempted to say that if your a technology company and you would like to get involved, then you need to give Kate a call at 214-495-4440, however we are sure the Center and Ms. Potts would welcome your involvement regardless of your business classification. Sponsorships range from $3,500 to $35,000, so pick up the phone and tell her BizNet Online told you to get involved. Again, Kate Potts can be reached at 214-495-4440. She will be happy to assist you with your priority sponsorship package, or visit :

Now, what has your business given to the community lately? You can always give more than money. You can give of your time, and expertise.

endless. If you are looking for a benefit to your business, look to your local chamber of commerce. Most chambers have committees that you can give your time and expertise to. Committees that not only work for the benefit of the business community, but the community they serve as well.

Looking to give more from the heart? There is no end to the list of service organizations that are looking for new members: Members that can and will give of their time, not just their money.

I promise you one thing. The smile your donation helps to put on a person's face is nothing compared to the feelings it will give to your soul.

To make a donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) call :

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