#United States #community support #Choice Hotels #Grants #North Bethesda

Choice Hotels International Invests in Local Communities

In a heartfelt acknowledgment of Giving Tuesday, Choice Hotels International, Inc. has taken a significant step by announcing the recipients of its 'Your Community, Your Choice' grant program for 2024. This initiative, which has been ongoing since 2019, is designed to empower hotel owners to support essential causes in their local communities. In total, this year, Choice Hotels is donating $75,000 to various nonprofit organizations across the United States, marking an impressive total of $275,000 over the five years since the program's inception.

Celebrating Five Years of Impact

This celebration of the program’s fifth anniversary emphasizes the commitment of Choice Hotels to positively influence the communities in which their hotels operate. Megan Brumagim, the Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Choice Hotels, remarked, "At Choice Hotels, we believe in the power of our hotels to be catalysts for positive change within their communities." This powerful philosophy aligns with their mission to foster a productive and enriching environment where local nonprofits can thrive.

Grant Recipients and Their Causes

The 2024 grant recipients were handpicked by various Choice hotels, highlighting their connection to the missions of these organizations. Each recipient exhibits a commendable mission aimed at improving lives in the community. The selected nonprofits include:

• - Hilltop Community Resource Center (Grand Junction, Colorado): Nominated by Clarion Inn, this center aids domestic violence victims and veterans.
• - The Karing Home Youth Project (Gaylord, Michigan): Nominated by Comfort Inn & Suites, this initiative provides crucial shelter and resources for homeless youth.
• - SPCA of Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo, Michigan): Nominated by Radisson Plaza Hotel, this organization focuses on animal welfare and adoption initiatives.
• - South Michigan Food Bank/Kendall Street Pantry (Battle Creek, Michigan): Nominated by Quality Inn & Suites, it aims to address hunger in the community.
• - Youth in Need (Saint Charles, Missouri): Nominated by WoodSpring Suites, this nonprofit supports vulnerable youth through essential services, housing, and educational programs.
• - Samaritan's Purse (Boone, North Carolina): Nominated by Graystone Lodge, this organization assists with disaster recovery efforts.
• - InterAct (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Kidz Kottage (Idabel, Oklahoma): Both work to support domestic violence victims and abused children, respectively.
• - I Would Rather Be Reading (Louisville, Kentucky): This organization emphasizes childhood literacy and social-emotional learning.
• - Reclaiming Lives Recovery Café (Medford, Oregon): Provides support for addiction recovery.
• - Families of Autism Coming Together (Virginia Beach, Virginia) and JCI La Crosse (La Crosse, Wisconsin) aim to offer services for families affected by autism and empower youth from underserved communities.
• - Roots for Boots (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) and United Way of East TN Highlands (Nashville, Tennessee) specifically provide support for veterans and disaster relief respectively.
• - The Children's Shelter (San Antonio, Texas): Focuses on providing shelter and support programs for children and families in need.

Commitment to Community Engagement

The 'Your Community, Your Choice' initiative reflects a deeper commitment from Choice Hotels to not only participate in but actively lead community engagement efforts. The organization has consistently worked alongside partners like the American Red Cross, addressing ongoing needs such as disaster relief, human trafficking prevention, and promoting sustainability in practices at their hotels.

Choice Hotels' continuous endeavors to support local businesses are evident through their community-focused initiatives. The company's commitment to social responsibility strengthens its presence as a leader in the hospitality industry.

For more information about the 'Your Community, Your Choice' program, visit their official page here. Additionally, to explore Choice Hotels' social responsibility efforts, you can access their latest Environment, Social, and Governance Report here. Choice Hotels International, with a diverse portfolio of over 7,500 hotels worldwide, continues to serve not just travelers but also the increasingly vital role of community support wherever they operate.