Macquarie Bank software developer Miranda Hunt was the top IT & T industry individual scorer in the IT Fund for Kids ‘Know IT All’ challenge online IQ test, while Dimension Data Australia took the top spot as the most intelligent company.

The ‘Know IT All’ Challenge was an online IQ test held in March to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Giant Steps. Over 250 people took the test, with Microsoft Australia the company with the highest number of participants and ComputerCORP the company with highest average IQ.

The IT&T industry then put its smartest brains to the test at the ‘Know IT All’ Challenge dinner, sponsored by KPMG on 1 April.The industry raised just over $96,000 on the night through company participation in the dinner.

Of the 25 companies that battled it out for the title of most intelligent company at the dinner,based on a series of IQ questions, Dimension Data was closely followed by Integrated Research, KAZ and Microsoft, all tying for second.

“In its very first year, it was absolutely terrific to see the level of support we received from the industry for this new initiative within the ‘IT Fund for Kids’ program,” said Jill Weekes, chief executive officer, The Starlight Children’s Foundation.

“Expectations for the event were moderate considering the drop in support the campaign has experienced since inception in 2000 and the global requirements for funds following the Boxing Day Tsunami. We were delighted though with the generosity demonstrated on the night and the competitive spirit of the industry being focused on a wonderful cause, brightening the lives of seriously ill and autistic children.”

Funds raised at the ‘Know IT All’ industry dinner are expected to boost the depleted total donations from the traditional ‘Donate a Day’s Pay’ element of the campaign. This year, funds raised will assist in the deployment of high-tech, mobile Starlight Fun Centres into children’s hospitals around the country. These are specialised entertainment units that bring hours of entertainment and fun to the bedside of hospitalised children.

Microsoft Australia and event sponsor KPMG demonstrated further support for the campaign, purchasing three Starlight Fun Centres valued at $10,000 each for deployment into children’s hospitals. Microsoft purchased two of the centres and KPMG one with further team donations toward Fun Centres on the night totaling an additional $5,000. 

Companies also participating in the ‘Donate a Day’s Pay’ element of the campaign include the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), Ambit, Business Objectives, Checkpoint Software, Cisco Systems, Citec, Citrix Systems, EMC, Fairfax Digital, Gartner, Howorth Communications, Microsoft, Trend Micro, Verisign, Sun Microsystems and Integrated Research. It is a little sad to see that there are still some pretty big names missing from the list.

It’s not too late to sign up to participate in the 2005 ‘Putting IT Back’ Donate a Day’s Pay fundraising effort. For further information, please visit www.itfundforkids.com.au or call Penny Waitsman at the Starlight Children’s Foundation on (02) 8425 5914. Total funds raised by the IT Fund for Kids in 2005 will be finalised after the end of the financial year on 30 June.