“For many, the word “hometown” evokes images of neighborhoods, families and life-long friends. It can be a place where you grew up or a place where you want to grow old”. But for so many- this concept is unknown. This month’s highlighted charity effort, Hometown Hospitality, is dedicated to making everyone feel more at home in their communities- especially those who are less fortunate.

Hometown Hospitality was launched by Benchmark Hospitality International as a company-wide community service initiative. Because Benchmark Hospitality International is made up of 26 hotels and resorts nationwide, their organization is able to formalize already existing community involvement programs in these areas. Hometown Hospitality is able to offer the necessary tools for non-involved properties to become engaged in various community programs with the ultimate goal of creating – a little Hometown Hospitality. The organization hopes that through these initiatives that everyone will feel deserving and welcome in their own communities.

According to their website, Hometown Hospitality exclaims that “caring for our communities is a passion, not a past-time”. Here are some ways that Hometown Hospitality has contributed to the community:

1.    Donating Much Needed Vacations to Families Throughout the United States
Benchmark Hospitality International along with the Boys and Girls Club of America partnered up this past January to provide vacations to families in need through the Hometown Hospitality initiative. Vacations are a luxury to most. Whether it is due to finances of family problems, most of the time they are just not an option. These thirty complimentary vacations at various Benchmark Hospitality establishments were awarded to deserving community involved families across the U.S.

2.    Showing Hometown Hospitality to a Community Half Way Across the World
When word got out that a Benchmark employee and his wife were adopting a Haitian child who might have fallen victim to the earthquake in Haiti, employees company-wide leaped into action to aid in relief efforts. Hometown Hospitality not only began to raise money through employee donations, but Benchmark Hospitality International matched those donations and gave all proceeds to the Red Cross relief efforts. Even if it is not a community close to home, Hometown Hospitality is always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.

3.    Organizing Fun Family Events like Swim and Spin-a-thon at Cheyenne Mountain Resort
This refreshing Hometown Hospitality Event, the 1st annual “Mountain of Hope” Swim & Spin-a-thon Fundraiser, assisted a local soup kitchen through aquatics and fitness at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs. While event-goers took part in high intensity activities throughout the day such as swimming, spinning, biking, hauling, and building they went to these great lengths to raise money to benefit a community initiative in need. All the hard work paid off in the end because the event raised $5,500 for this local community involvement establishment.