Global Connections’ Committee of Awesomeness Supports Philanthropic Causes Championed by Employees
Talk about awesome! Travel industry leader Global Connections, Inc. (GCI), a travel club fulfillment and service provider of Global Discovery Vacations, has its very own employee driven volunteer organization called the Committee of Awesomeness (C.O.A). The company supports ongoing philanthropic and social responsibility endeavors to assist local communities through charities and causes championed by its employees. The C.O.A organizes monthly events with various worthwhile groups in mind, sharing both physical and financial support.
Tom Lyons, President and CEO of GCI says “Global Connections regularly donates complimentary condominium vacations for various local and national charity auctions. But what makes us equally proud are the efforts our employee team makes in generating excitement and support for their own favorite causes.”
In 2015 the C.O.A. hosted everything from Taco Tuesdays to Beer Fridays. With the help of their peers and support of the management team, the enthusiastic employee committee members have been instrumental in collecting thousands of dollars for the local community and the greater Kansas City area.
Most recently the C.O.A. supported Project Walk, a spinal cord injury recovery program which has helped hundreds of people recover from devastating injuries. The C.O.A. team organized and held a special event called “The Hot Dog Games” (loosely based on The Hunger Games) to support Project Walk, especially near and dear to GCI since the organization was founded by a former GCI Vice President who is a paraplegic himself. The participating employees not only raised funds but built awareness for Project Walk and some energetic camaraderie.
Other organizations championed by GCI employees have included Ronald McDonald House Charities, Harvesters Community Food Network, Toys for Tots, Happy Bottoms, Wayside Waifs, Hope House, St. James Place and Red Cross (for the Joplin, MO tornado relief fund).
The Kansas based home office is not the only awesome group in the GCI family. The company’s fulfillment office in Tampa, FL holds annual fundraising initiatives for the SPCA in Tampa which serves abused and neglected animals. The company’s resort Sea Shells Beach Club (Daytona Beach, FL) is a major supporter of the Earth Day beach clean-up. And Beso Del Sol Resort, (Dunedin, FL) hosts an annual event to raise funds to provide abused foster children with a summer camping experience.
“Giving the Global Way, “says Lyons, “is all about giving back to our community. Whether its sending care packages to the military or making sure babies have diapers, our team is always coming up with creative ways to raise funds and extend a helping hand. That’s why we call them Awesome.”
About Global Connections, Inc.
Global Connections, Inc. is based in Overland Park, KS, opening in 1996 as a travel club fulfillment and service provider. Considered a leader in the travel club industry, GCI offers the members of its Global Discovery Vacations club program a wide variety of leisure benefits and vacation options at more than 700 North American resorts. GCI is the developer and owner of resorts in California, Florida, Tennessee and Colorado as well as owning and leasing multiple resort condominium units throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Caribbean.
About Global Discovery Vacations
Global Discovery Vacations is a respected membership based travel club offering its members access to condominium accommodations, cruise and tour vacations, a full service travel agency, a concierge program, and other leisure benefits.
For more information on GCI, visit www.exploregci.com.
For more information regarding Global Discovery Vacations, visit www.globaldiscoveryvacations.com.
