Dear CDT Community,
I am reaching out to you today regarding CDT’s upcoming Annual Dinner, fondly known as Tech Prom. Our organization, like many others, has been monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic and updates provided by the CDC and the District of Columbia. Truly, these are unprecedented circumstances, and the situation has been evolving rapidly.
After evaluating the public health recommendations to avoid large gatherings, and speaking with many of you who have institutionally-issued travel restrictions in place, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Tech Prom. Our primary focus is the health and safety of our guests, staff, vendors, and the community at large.
This decision was not made lightly.
Tech Prom is CDT’s only fundraising event, and accounts for nearly 20% of CDT’s overall revenue for the year. It is also an event where CDT staff and guests renew bonds of friendship, professional camaraderie, and have the opportunity to learn from subject matter experts in a variety of fields. This year was also the celebration of CDT’s 25th Anniversary, and we were looking forward to welcoming our alumni who have contributed so much to tech policy. Tech Prom was promising to be an incredibly fun event this year, and we are devastated to not be able to host it again this year.
In the coming days, I will reach out to sponsors and ticket holders to discuss plans for committed pledges and follow their lead in how to handle the investments made in CDT’s Tech Prom.
We are sorry not to bring you the 2020 Tech Prom, but appreciate your understanding. Thank you for all the ways you support CDT as we ensure democracy and individual rights are at the center of the digital revolution. We look forward to all that lies ahead.
Sincerely,
Lee-Berkeley Shaw
Director of Development
If you wish to support CDT during this time of uncertainty, we invite you to visit cdt.org/donate to make a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
