Interval International and Zuana Beach Resort Employees Bring Smiles to Children In Colombia
Nearly 30 Interval International and Zuana Beach Resort Bogotá-based employees recently participated in “Smile Exchange,” an event designed to lift the spirits of children undergoing treatment at the Operation Smile multidisciplinary care center in Colombia’s capital city. The volunteers from Interval and Zuana treated the children to breakfast throughout the week and engaged them in a variety of activities, including arts and crafts. Families also received donations of school supply and dental-hygiene kits.
“Our goal with this project was to make a difference in our ‘hometown’ community and we were so gratified to touch the lives of nearly 100 deserving children,” said Gustavo Hoyos, Interval’s finance director in Colombia. “Our employees were able to see firsthand the quality of care they received from Operation Smile’s dedicated staff.”
The volunteer network in Colombia includes more than 260 medical and non-medical professionals, who care for children in different regions through its various programs. For over 20 years, Operation Smile has provided surgical care to more than 20,500 patients with cleft lip and cleft palate, and has offered approximately 180,000 consultations in different specialties.
“Interval approached us with the desire to help our organization and together we created an event that was both practical and fun for the children,” noted Martha Tristancho, executive director of the Operation Smile Colombia Foundation. “The families and I are so very thankful for its support.”
The non-profit organization’s multidisciplinary care centers in Duitama and Bogotá offer year-round comprehensive care services, including surgeries; dental and orthodontic care; speech therapy; genetic, nutrition, and psychological assessments; and social work consultations.
About Interval International
Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market since 1976. Today, Interval’s exchange network comprises more than 3,000 resorts in over 80 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating business of ILG (Nasdaq: ILG), a leading global provider of professionally delivered vacation experiences.
