Saturday, August 1, 2009

Saturday Morning Coffee 8/1/09

Good morning to you all. It is hard to believe it is August already and football season is only 1 month away!!! Today I am going to post something very different. I am copy and pasting an article from Travel Trade magazine on July 30, 2009. It concerns my home office and their effort to support our veterans and it makes me very proud to be a part of Cruise Planners. Another unique quality my home office has versus so many other large franchise systems out there is that I have met and talked with Michelle Fee, our co-founder and CEO. Anyway here is the article and I hope you have a great rest of the weekend!

Cruise Planners/Am Ex Donates Franchise, Charitable Partnership
Thu Jul 30 2009, by Travel Trade Staff


Cruise Planners/American Express is celebrating the donation of an $11,000 Cruise Planners franchise to an Air Force veteran and the announcement of the company's year-long charitable partnership with Royal Caribbean International and the Fisher House Foundation.


In late 2008, Cruise Planners hosted a nationwide franchise giveaway to celebrate the launch of the company's CP Cares program, which provides veterans with more than $2,500 in discounts toward purchasing a franchise. As the deserving recipient of the franchise, Air Force veteran Chris Silman was presented with the "key" to his new business as well as a $500 donation towards his marketing efforts by Cruise Planners co-founder and CEO Michelle Fee. In addition, Royal Caribbean International matched the contribution for a combined donation of $1,000.


Cruise Planners also announced "Voyages for Veterans," its yearlong charitable partnership with Royal Caribbean International and the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that provides no-cost housing to families of veterans who are undergoing extended medical treatment at VA medical centers. Cruise Planners and Royal Caribbean executives kicked-off the partnership by presenting the foundation with a $2,000 donation. In addition, Fee announced that charitable efforts will continue into next year with the companies donating $50 for every booking made through a Cruise Planners agent on select Royal Caribbean Voyages for Veterans sailings throughout 2010.


"Cruise Planners believes in bringing positive impact to our industry, customers and the community that we've called home for our entire 15 years in business," said Fee. "Not only is it our civic responsibility, it is our privilege to honor those that serve our country."


Event attendees included representatives from Broward County's Veteran Services and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.


"Companies like Cruise Planners and Royal Caribbean set the bar for social responsibility," said Marjorie Valdes, public affairs specialist for the Miami VA Healthcare System and Fisher House Foundation representative. "Much of what the Fisher House Foundation accomplishes is a direct result of charitable contributions, and we are so honored to be the recipient of their generosity."

Jeremy

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