Category: Corporate Responsibility

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Last week, a student tour group passing through Virginia Beach stopped by the Oceanfront long enough to enjoy a few hours of fun following a tiring but rewarding community service project. Seventy-one students and chaperones on an “Explore Colleges” tour assisted staff from Parks & Recreation in cleaning up more than 1500 pounds of trash found within an abandoned campsite on city property near Birdneck Road. Despite sweltering temperatures topping 100 degrees, the group worked tirelessly under tough conditions by bagging and carrying objects from the woods to an area where a dumpster was staged.  Thanks to their dedication, this project added over 140 hours the city’s volunteerism report for July. Following their hard work, the group visited the Oceanfront and enjoyed lunch, the beach and local attractions. Thanks to CVBers Jim Coggin and Teresa Diaz for helping coordinate this “One Beach, One World” project for another group interested in giving back to our community while visiting Virginia Beach.

Last week, the CVB hosted 23 students and chaperons from the Education First foreign exchange student program. Students from Germany, Spain, France and several other countries devoted their morning to community service at the JCOC where they helped organize the food pantry, assisted in the kitchen and helped serve lunch to the residents. Their afternoon was filled with  a visit to the Veterans’ Memorial where they learned a bit about American military culture,  followed by a  behind-the-scenes tour of the convention center and a brief tourism overview. Their time with us ended with a fantastic Virginia Beach  history lesson and learning about the services offered at the VIC. Thanks to Courtney, Scott and Teresa for hosting this group whose service project fostered a ton of good will and resulted in 80 community service hours to add to our One Beach, One World success stories!

Earlier this year, the CVB was asked to match an incoming meeting group with a non-profit to support during their annual meetings which was set for July at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. After evaluating the groups interests and partner opportunities, a great match was made between the group, Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VCTA), and Vetshouse, Inc., a local non-profit which supports military veterans.

VCTA’s goal was to raise $560, which would pay the Vetshouse expenses for one month, plus collect a bin of personal care and toiletries for the residents. VCTA decided to hold a raffle to raise the money, with the raffle winner winning $200. Support was overwhelming; VCTA initially raised $2,400 in cash donations plus four bins of personal care items. Here’s where the story really gets good:

On Saturday morning, July 16, VCTA leaders invited Vetshouse Executive Director Willard “Smitty” Smith, a Vietnam veteran, to join them for breakfast. Smitty accepted and thought he was going to the Sheraton to collect a bin of personal care items but was instead presented with a check for $2,400. While he was overwhelmed at VTCA’s generosity, but again, the story gets even better…

The winner of the $200 raffle donated her winnings to Vetshouse, bringing the total donation to $2,600. VCTA Executive President Jeffrey Southard then asked VCTA members to step up to make the donation an even $3,000 and offered a challenge, start with his $50 contribution. Within minutes, the line to donate additional money to Vetshouse stretched around the Sheraton ballroom! VTCA members took out $20, $50, even $100 bills, and placed them on the table in front of Smitty.  Some wrote checks.  Smitty broke into tears. In the end, VTCA members contributed $6,300 to Vetshouse along with four bins of personal care items.

This project represents the largest donation made to a partner under the “One Beach, One World” social responsibility program created by the CVB to enhance the Virginia Beach experience for visitors desiring to support our community during their stay.

Exciting CSR news!

Veterans Kitchens, Inc. is now a partner under One Beach, One World.

Veterans Kitchens is a local non-profit which works in partnership with the VA to help homeless vets gain independence. Read more about them here: http://veteranskitchen.org/

We’ll be adding them to the website soon but in the meantime, contact Teresa Diaz if you have any questions.