The September 18 gathering unites the North Texas community to broaden STEM access for girls in grades K–12
“Our chapter has spent over two decades making sure girls throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region have the resources, self-assurance, and community backing to follow STEM education”— Jessica Kelton, President, North Texas Chapter of High Tech RisingDALLAS, TX, UNITED STATES, August 27, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — High Tech Rising North Texas, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to narrowing the gender divide in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), is set to hold its 12th annual Friendraiser on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Oak Highlands Brewery, 500 Lockwood Drive in Richardson, Texas.
As the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year, the Friendraiser unites supporters, corporate partners, community leaders, and friends for an uplifting evening that benefits STEM education and hands-on experiences for K–12 girls throughout North Texas.
This year’s Friendraiser adopts a casual, social atmosphere, shifting from a conventional country-club location to a nearby brewery. Still, the event’s central goal stays unchanged: raising essential funds to enable more girls to discover, investigate, and chase opportunities in STEM.
High Tech Rising North Texas has backed STEM education across the Dallas-Fort Worth area for more than twenty years. Since 2019 alone, the chapter has awarded more than $1.9 million in grants supporting STEM education, which includes physics camps attended by over 1,000 girls, gender equity training for 800 teachers, and STEM career workshops for 1,000 school counselors.
“For more than 20 years, our chapter has worked to ensure girls across the Dallas-Fort Worth area have the tools, confidence, and community support to pursue STEM education,” said Jessica Kelton, President, North Texas Chapter of High Tech Rising. “Every ticket and donation directly empowers young women in North Texas to explore STEM fields and shape the future of technology.”
The event anchors an important week of local giving. North Texas Giving Day takes place Thursday, September 17, 2026, with early giving opening August 27. For North Texas Giving Day 2026, High Tech Rising North Texas is directing 100% of funds raised to Oh Snap! to help bring engaging, hands-on STEM learning to more students and communities. Supporters who cannot attend the Friendraiser in person can still make a difference by supporting High Tech Rising North Texas through North Texas Giving Day.
Join Our Upcoming Friendraiser
What: 12th Annual High Tech Rising North Texas Friendraiser
When: Friday, September 18, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Oak Highlands Brewery | 500 Lockwood Dr., Richardson, TX
Tickets: $50 general admission | $25 for guests under 21
Tickets & Event Sponsorships: Friendraiser Event Page
North Texas Giving Day Campaign: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/HTR
About High Tech Rising
Founded in 2001 by a group of women at Texas Instruments, High Tech Rising (formerly High-Tech High Heels) is a volunteer-led non-profit dedicated to increasing the number of young women pursuing degrees and careers in STEM. Through strategic grants, partnerships, and volunteer engagement, High Tech Rising works to ensure that every young woman has the confidence to pursue a STEM career, limited only by her talents, efforts, and aspirations.
Supporters, community partners, and volunteers are invited to learn more about the initiative by visiting hightechrising.org
Kelly Stark
High Tech Rising
+1 214-326-0479 ext. 1
kellystark@hightechrising.org
