The Family Bonds Foundation, a charitable initiative of Internova Travel Group, has raised $461,000 to assist people in need in the travel industry, exceeding its 2024 goal of $150,000.
Founded in 2015 by John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group, part of Internova Travel Group, the Family Bonds Foundation supports those in the travel industry—along with their families, their children and their communities—who are experiencing financial hardships.
The fundraising effort received a big boost at Travel Leaders Network’s annual EDGE conference, held in June in National Harbor, MD, where Family Bonds conducted a silent auction and online raffle. A record number of prizes were donated by supplier partners, including ocean and river cruises, land packages, hotel stays and airline tickets.
This year, Family Bonds also launched a corporate donor program, allowing travel agencies and partners to sign on as sponsors. Sponsorship levels are Diamond, $25,000+; Platinum, $10,000-$24,999; Gold, $5,000-$9,999; Silver, $2,500-$4,999; and Bronze, $1,000-$2,499. Outside Agents, Pavlus Travel and Globus family of brands have committed to Diamond sponsorships, and Cruise Holidays of Kansas City and Nexion Travel Group have joined as Platinum sponsors. Family Bonds has received commitments at other sponsorship levels as well.
“I am truly humbled by the generosity of our travel advisors, employees and supplier partners in embracing this charitable endeavor that does so much for people in our industry,” said Jackie Friedman, president of Family Bonds Foundation. Friedman is also president of Nexion Travel Group, an Internova Travel Group company. Nexion Travel Group will hold its Family Bonds fundraiser, including an online raffle and silent auction, at the CoNexion conference in New Orleans in September.
Each year, nominations for assistance from the Family Bonds Foundation are taken from Internova Travel Group’s network of advisors and partners. The Foundation Board, consisting of travel industry leaders, agency owners and supplier partner and Internova Travel Group executives, reviews the nominations and awards grants. So far, more than 200 grants have been distributed to travel advisors, supplier partners and their local communities, helping with expenses such as college tuition, medical bills, daycare or after-school care, school supplies and other basic necessities.
Everyone in the travel industry is encouraged to help the foundation identify potential recipients. The next deadline for nominations is October 15, with the decision communicated to recipients on November 1.
For more information, visit www.familybondsfoundation.com.
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