Auberge Resorts Collection introduces ENRICHING LIVES, a social purpose that aims to enrich the lives of communities through education and learning in the destinations where Auberge Resorts Collection properties operate.
Driven by a shared mission to create opportunities that make a difference in each local community, each property team will work together to offer meaningful mentorships, raise money for various nonprofit organizations and scholarships
through fundraising events, and volunteer time and resources to uplift those in need.
From establishing on-site educational programs that result in job opportunities to facilitating nature-based activities for inner-city adolescents, Auberge Resorts Collection’s ENRICHING LIVES program creates opportunities that will make a difference in the community at large.“Our hotels have been supporting their local communities since they opened their doors,” said Craig Reid, chief executive officer and president, Auberge Resorts Collection.
“Our ENRICHING LIVES program strives to deepen the impact we make through new education and learning opportunities. It is a program that allows our guests and team members to invest in our neighborhoods and positively impact the integral development of our youth and those in need.”
HIGHLIGHTS OF AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION’S ENRICHING LIVES PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
Uniting Kids with Park City’s Vast Mother Nature
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection in Park City, Utah is working with the nonprofit Voice for Nature to provide urban adolescents an opportunity to foster a deep connection with nature. Throughout the year, the property hosts teenagers from the YMCA to horseback ride, visit Gracie’s Farm, meet with the resort’s veterinarian and farmers and explore the Wasatch Mountains.
The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection has also partnered with local schools to enhance student education through hotel internships, hands-on learning and career opportunities in the hospitality industry.
Healing with Horses in Costa Rica
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection in Costa Rica and Flying Horse Foundation are committed to advancing the well-being of at-risk youth in the community. AltaGracia donates its facilities, horses and wranglers to support the nonprofit’s equine-assisted learning program led by trained professionals and the resort’s team.
The weekly, curriculum-based program features two-hour group sessions led by trained professionals and serves children and teens from local schools, orphanages, safe houses, and youth groups who are struggling with trauma, learning difficulties, depression, and other challenging conditions.
Through grooming, feeding, riding, and tending to the horses, students acquire skills and experiences that strengthen awareness, resilience, empathy, and self-regulation.
The goal is to reintroduce farming to the island of Anguilla which currently depends heavily on imports for a significant portion of its produce. As part of the partnership, the resort will provide the school with the necessary resources to develop the garden including manpower, soil and fertilizer, as well as hands-on involvement and mentorship for the students in an effort to nurture the next generation of farmers.
Children will learn about sustainable agriculture from Malliouhana’s culinary team through this program. The property aims to expand this initiative to various primary schools across the island to educate and excite students about farming in such a way that it sparks interest in future career opportunities in agriculture.
During the year, the hotel will host a series of experiential fundraising events from chef-led cookouts to ice skating. Next up, the property will host its second Annual Alpine Cookout on July 2, 2022, which will directly benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society. The gastronomic affair will showcase top chefs including Viet Pham, Dean Fearing, Mark Tarbell, and Mark Kiffin. All donations and event proceeds will go to the WCS.
Championing Livelihoods on Land and Sea in Los Cabos
In partnership with the Green Scholarship Program, the properties have established an annual education scholarship fund that awards two promising female students studying tourism or marine biology the first year of university tuition.
This includes books, transportation, psychological support and English classes to ensure their success. In addition, each scholar is invited to visit their sponsoring hotel to learn more about the hospitality industry.
Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection and Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection are also supporting Coperativa Alvarez, a fishing collective of 20 families in Baja California Sur’s Magdalena Bay.
Both hotels have committed to purchasing the collective’s entire catch on a weekly basis to directly sustain the livelihood of local fishermen/women and deliver guests the region’s freshest seafood.
In addition to ongoing donations, team members provide regular mentorship, job shadowing, and job opportunities for the youth. Additionally, the participating youth are invited to enjoy a property experience each month including on-property hiking and horseback riding.
Fostering Community Through the Arts & Nature in Napa Valley
Solage, Auberge Resorts Collection in Napa Valley, Calif. has committed to creating educational programming that fosters creative expression, nurtures curiosity and builds a sense of community.
The resort invites guests to participate in art events supporting classes, workshops and camps put on by Nimbus Arts, a nonprofit that makes art available to local children, adults and seniors. Guests are also invited to attend the annual NimBASH fundraising event on Saturday, May 28, 2022, a spirited “arty party” featuring auction items from artwork to hospitality experiences that benefit the nonprofit and its objectives.
Auberge du Soleil continues its long-standing partnership with the grass-roots nonprofit, Napa Valley Vine Trail, committed to developing a 47-mile safe and scenic walking and biking trail stretching the length of the Valley.
The trail offers visitors and locals alike a car-free sustainable alternative for exploring wine country while reducing their carbon footprint. To date, Auberge du Soleil has donated more than $260,000 to the effort through an opt-in program that informs guests about the project and matches their $4 per reservation donation.
In addition, the property supports various local public schools, culinary and wine education programs and community colleges via internships, mentorships, and scholarships that encourage up-and-coming hospitality professionals and chefs throughout the region.
Spreading Avalanche Awareness in Telluride
Element 52, Auberge Resorts Collection aims to educate the Telluride, Colo. community about backcountry safety through a partnership with PI Avalanche Fund, whose mission is to keep outdoor enthusiasts safe by providing avalanche education and backcountry user awareness.
Each year, the property awards scholarships for local community members to complete the AIARE avalanche safety courses. The 3-day curriculum helps to identify avalanche terrain as well as rescue techniques. Avalanche education helps keep the community out of harm’s way and decreases demand for search and rescue teams on the mountain.
The partnership pays homage to the legacy of change-making Vanderbilt women like Alva Belmont Vanderbilt who used her influence to advance the women’s suffrage movement and establish the Political Equality League. Over the course of the year, the hotel hosts fundraising events, career counseling opportunities and complimentary fitness classes for women and children.
Through a variety of avenues, the hotel supports LIFT-UP’s mission to end hunger in the Roaring Fork Valley. In addition to ongoing donations, the hotel hosts experiential events throughout the year that benefit the nonprofit, aiming to end hunger in the Roaring Fork Valley by providing locals with access to fresh, healthy and sustainable food.
Saving the Sea Turtles on the Coast of Florida
Auberge Beach Residences in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. has joined forces with the National Save the Sea Turtle Foundation to protect threatened and endangered sea turtles that nest along Florida’s coast. Over the years, the sea turtle populations have been depleted by the demand for sea turtle meat, shells and leather.
Thousands also drown in fishing gear each year and others die from pollutants or swallowing trash. To help protect this vulnerable species, Auberge Beach Residences adopts sea turtle nests to ensure the hatchlings have the best chance of survival. On a quarterly basis, the team also leads beach cleanups that residents and neighbors are invited to join.
Supporting the Blue Ridge Community Through Southern Food and Drink
Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, is committed to supporting the Patrick County Community Food Bank by raising funds and donating proceeds from creative food and drink offerings that reflect the resort’s Southern roots and connection to the community.
Nourishing Islands with Nature’s Bounty
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection in Hawai’i and nonprofit Māla‘ai have come together to support students at Waimea Middle School, offering hands-on horticulture experience by sustainably growing and harvesting fresh fruits and vegetables at the resort’s Living Garden.
The program serves the well-being of the students, Mauna Lani team members, and the greater community by providing classes, workshops and volunteer days.
Helping Young Adults Cultivate Life Skills in Litchfield County
As part of the program, the hotel offers employment opportunities to students in the program where they receive hands-on experience in the hospitality industry and build life skills that will positively impact their future.
Preserving Seafood Farming in Maine
White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection in Kennebunk, ME is promoting a sustainable fishing future with Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA), which enhances the sustainability of local fisheries by advocating for fair market prices, upholding cultural traditions and providing food to public schools and food banks.
Throughout the year, the resort will collaborate with chefs on menus and activities that speak to the culinary ethos of the hotel and Maine’s food culture.
Activities include mussel bakes, oyster and beer tastings, fly-fishing for striped bass, and fireside chats with top chefs and the people behind Maine’s seafood farms. Ticket proceeds directly support MCFA. Additionally, guests can enjoy any of White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection’s seafood dishes to have a donation automatically made to the nonprofit.
Garden to Greenhouse Dinners for Austin’s Youth
Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection in Austin, Texas has committed to nourishing Austin’s farm-based youth leadership organization, Urban Roots, which has been empowering youth for more than ten years on its 3.5-acre farm in East Austin.
The estate’s involvement is three-fold: fundraising through quarterly farm-to-table Greenhouse Dinners, supporting Urban Roots’ CSA program and hosting the youth for exploration and mentorship sessions, in which they have the opportunity to work alongside the estate’s chefs and wine directors.
About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 22 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.
About The Friedkin Group (short)
The Friedkin Group is a privately-held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, AS Roma, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin.
