As part of an ongoing commitment to giving back to local communities and following the October 2011 Las Vegas debut of its new trade show for events, meetings and incentive travel professionals, IMEX America — along with The Estoril Congress Center of Portugal — is pleased to announce a donation of $6,000 to Opportunity Village and The Shade Tree.
These vital non-profit organizations serve the Las Vegas and Southern Nevada community. Both charities were selected prior to IMEX America to benefit from several of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Organizers used the trade show to help promote and raise the profile of the two local organizations among visiting meetings industry professionals from all over the world. Sponsorship from the Estoril Congress Center served to highlight Estoril’s own commitment to the principles of CSR and sustainability while also providing a generous donation to two good causes.
Opportunity Village employs over 1,600 people with intellectual disabilities at three employment training and business service center campuses and at a Thrift Store. The Shade Tree provides over 80,000 nights of shelter per year as well as employment and housing services to homeless and abused women and children — making it the largest shelter of its kind in the state of Nevada.
The Shade Tree will put its $3,500 donation towards items such as baby bottles and diapers which will help women in crisis meet the essential needs of their families while they work to gain stability, dignity, and self-reliance. Opportunity Village will use their $2,500 donation towards purchasing art supplies for their Art Enrichment Program, which helps participants build confidence and self esteem by tapping into new talents and skills.
Commenting on the positive and direct impact that the combined IMEX America and Estoril donation will make, Opportunity Village’s Sales Account Executive, Rachel Allen said: ”This will make a huge difference in supporting our activities. We will be able to purchase supplies for our Art Enrichment Program where the special individuals that we serve can do what they love … creating art.”
Beyond just writing a check to these organizations, during IMEX America at the Sands Expo (which is connected to the show’s Headquarters Hotel, The Venetian®|The Palazzo®), Oct. 11-13, 2011, IMEX America and Estoril also hosted tours to Opportunity Village and The Shade Tree so that show attendees could see and experience the great work these two organizations are doing first hand. This experience so touched some IMEX employees (headquartered in the South of England) that they have created an office donation drive for books, toys and clothing with items being shipped to The Shade Tree shelter in time for the holidays.
Commenting on the importance of corporate responsibility in our communities Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, shared: ”Especially in today’s challenging economic times it is so important that we come together as business people around the world to assist those in need. Opportunity Village and The Shade Tree do amazing work and we –- along with Estoril — are thrilled to be able to lend a helping hand through education, access, greater awareness and through donation.”
IMEX America will return to Las Vegas in 2012 on October 9th-11th when further CSR and sustainability initiatives will be built into the trade show.
IMEX in Frankfurt was the first ever trade show to launch annual ‘green awards’ in the industry. It is a key part of the IMEX Group’s vision and values to promote environmental education and green meetings best practice, whilst also running a number of programs designed to improve knowledge and understanding about the benefits of corporate social responsibility and its place within the global meetings industry.
For more information – http://www.imexamerica.com/sustainability.html
