250 Respond in Nationwide Family Vacation Initiative with Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Benchmark Hospitality International and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) received an overwhelming response to the partnership’s nationwide Hometown Hospitality Caring for Our Communities™ vacation initiative, announced Laura Neumann. Ms. Neumann, vice president for Benchmark Hospitality and general manager for the company’s Cheyenne Mountain Resort of Colorado Springs, serves as the champion for the national initiative, which is providing 30 complimentary vacations to deserving families coast-to-coast and in Hawaii. Benchmark Hospitality partnered with BGCA for the initiative, one of the nation’s most respected youth organizations providing quality after-school programming to young people, ages 6 to 18.
"We are profoundly moved by the huge response to our Hometown Hospitality vacation initiative and are so pleased to be able to provide 30 vacations to such deserving families across the nation,” said Laura Neumann. “We’re extremely grateful to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America organization, which has been a terrific partner.”
Several of the Boys & Girls Clubs applicants reported that a vacation in any form was not an option for their family this year, which can be particularly hard on children. “It was especially moving to read the applications from girls and boys who were asking for consideration for a Benchmark vacation -- not for themselves, but for their mom, dad, sisters and brothers,” concluded Ms. Neumann. “We are really looking forward to welcoming these 30 families to our hotels and resorts.”
The 30 complimentary vacations for families of four include guest accommodations, three meals each day, full access to recreation or resort amenities, and access to several local destination attractions as well. In addition, $100 gas cards are being provided, compliments of Shell Oil Company, to each family to help cover transportation.
Congratulations to the girls and boys and their families selected in the Caring for Our Communities Vacation initiative:
ARIZONA: Scottsdale Resort, Scottsdale (a five-day vacation)
· Deondre Onya - Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson
· Andrew & Armando Coronado - Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley
· Mia & Jobe Cullen - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix
CALIFORNIA: Chaminade Resort and Spa, Santa Cruz (a five-day vacation)
· Tamvy Thien Pham - Boys & Girls Clubs of Westminster
COLORADO: Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs (a five-day vacation)
· Keyabu Jenkins - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
· Kiara and Kyana Thomas - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
· Savannah, Sergio and Rico Palomino - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
FLORIDA: Costa d’ Este, Vero Beach (a three-day vacation)
· Robin Turner - Boys & Girls Club of Indian River County
HAWAII: Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu (a five-day vacation)
· Dwayne “Dino” Ortiz - Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
· Jeremy Friedman - Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
· Joanne Redmond - Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
ILLINOIS: Eaglewood Resort, Itasca-Chicago (a five-day vacation)
· Martin Orozco - Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana
· Jessica Franco - Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay
NEW JERSEY: The Heldrich Hotel, New Brunswick (a five-day vacation)
· Tanayqua Delgado - Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County
· Amanda Barrientos - Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark
NEW YORK: Edith Macy, Briarcliff Manor (a five-day vacation)
· Caitlyn Hamelinck - Boys & Girls Club of Somerset
TENNESSEE: The Chattanoogan (a three-day vacation)
· Patricia Nicholson - Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga
· Omarri Suggs - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
· Devonte Saunders - Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
TEXAS: Hotel Contessa, San Antonio (a five-day vacation)
· Marcus Villagomez - Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas
· Jamaria, Bruce - Boys & Girls of Clubs of San Antonio
· Dre’Chan Moody - Boys & Girls of Clubs of San Antonio
· Joshua Alvarado - Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio
VIRGINIA: Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg (a three-day vacation)
· Ebony Acton - Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
· Jordon Weigand - Boys & Girls Club of Loudoun County
· Katherine Majewski - Boys & Girls Club of Loudoun County
VIRGINIA: Founders Inn and Spa, Virginia Beach (a five-day vacation)
· Anwar Sparrow - Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia
· Glenn Garnes - Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia
WEST VIRGINIA: Stonewall (a five-day vacation)
· Sahera, Zyier and Mojave Gibson - Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania
· Trinity Hall - Orrville Area Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club members from 24 states entered the Benchmark Hospitality vacation program and accompanied their applications with touching essays on why they felt their families should be considered for complimentary vacations, which Benchmark Hospitality properties were providing. Boys & Girls Clubs of America worked with local clubs in regions where Benchmark Hospitality has hotels and resorts, and provided 250 applications to Benchmark and its properties for final review and selection. Families were notified in December and January by the Benchmark property in their region participating in the program.
