Sunshine Matters

234 pounds of food donated to Second Harvest, 47 pints of blood given, 80 cell phones contributed to Cell Phone for Soldiers, 6 pounds of pop tabs provided.

$338 contributed for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, $6,695 pledged towards the United Way Campaign, $127 made for the North Florida Rotary Youth Camp and $2,353 raised for the Christmas Connection.

The common theme: Giving back.  How much of a difference can you make in your community?  I’m guessing a BIG one.

This is our challenge to the rest of the tourism industry to think globally by giving back locally.  When forces are joined, what you give can make a bigger impact.  Instead of helping the community individually, VISIT FLORIDA helps through our Charity Committee, comprised of several employees who brainstorm and coordinate opportunities to aid our area.  All staff members are invited to participate in each initiative.  By combining our efforts, we are able to spread our reach and expand our range to those we aid.  Not only does giving back benefit your community, it’s good for employee morale.

Each Friday, VISIT FLORIDA staff is allowed to wear jeans for a two dollar donation.  One dollar is donated to assist VISIT FLORIDA with the adoption of families for Christmas Connection in November.  A second charity is voted on by staff where the funds collected throughout the calendar year are distributed to the charities in December.  This provides everyone a chance to have their charity represented.

Go Red for Women supports the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease; Light It Up Blue reinforces autism awareness; and VISIT FLORIDA Goes Pink Campaign is held for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help fight breast cancer.  For each themed day, staff dresses in the appropriate color to show our support to each organization.

Other initiatives we support include collecting hotel toiletries for residents of Refuge House; gathering used cell phones to donate to Cell Phones for Soldiers, a cell phone recycling program that turns each phone donated into calling cards for stationed soldiers; participating in the Pop Tab Collection Program for the Ronald McDonald House; donating school supplies to Tree House, a local 24-hour emergency shelter for abused and neglected children in our area; and giving gently used office supplies to the Sharing Tree.

Each year, VISIT FLORIDA staff adopts families in need for the holiday season using a local charity, Christmas Connection. Last year, two families were adopted in nearby Wakulla County.  Both families were single mothers raising two children and each had one child with autism.  These families are in need of basic essentials to make it through the holiday.  Funds raised during Friday Jeans Day, donations from staff, sales from our annual jewelry sale and donations from our contractors were used to supply toys from each child’s wish list, laundry supplies, food baskets, household items and toiletries.  Catch our elves in action as they wrap gifts in Santa’s Workshop and deliver gifts and supplies to the deserving families.

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Create that warm and fuzzy feeling by lifting your helping hand to reach out to those in your community who need assistance.  Whether it’s an organization your company supports, or a charity that is near and dear to your heart, giving back feels good and helps pave the path to creating a better community.

Collectively, Florida’s tourism industry can make a huge difference for the Sunshine State.  By combining our efforts, Florida’s future will remain bright.