A Record Year for “Virginia Beach Tourism Cares,” Reaching as Far as Nevada

Virginia Beach, Va. (January 8, 2014) – A holiday wrapping party and the donation of more than 140 gifts to local children in need highlighted the end of a record year for the charitable arm of the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).  From aiding meeting planners devastated by tornados in Oklahoma to collecting non-perishables for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, the staff of the CVB extended their charitable outreach by record numbers in 2013. Highlights of this year’s CVB community outreach successes include:

  • Donations of more than 3 tons of food
  • Pledging more than $4,915 in financial support
  • Facilitating the donation of more than $3,000 of in-kind goods

Known throughout the travel and tourism industry for their compassion and generosity, the Virginia Beach CVB staff partnered with local industry representatives and colleagues in other cities to create innovative ways to “give back” to the Virginia Beach community and communities across the nation. In addition to the year-end holiday toy drive project, here are some examples of “Virginia Beach Tourism Cares” projects completed this year:

  • Paired a visiting conference group with a local veterans’ organization and facilitated the delivery of a $1,000 donation to Vetshouse, Inc.;
  • Held monthly food drives and other incentive projects throughout the year and, together with local hospitality industry partners, donated more than 1000 pounds of food to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Distinctive Gourmet, the exclusive caterer for the Virginia Beach Convention Center, donated 6,575 pounds of food to The Potter’s House, a local food pantry which serves citizens in need;
  • Joined in the City’s annual United Way campaign and pledged $4,915 in financial support;
  • Organized a familiarization trip for  24 meeting planners and journalists who participated in a “Give Back Marketplace” at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, where they assembled 100 hygiene kits to donate to a local nonprofit as well as a group of displaced meeting planners in Oklahoma;
  • While on a sales mission to Georgia, collected and donated dozens of book to support the “Hands On Atlanta” book drive;
  • Organized the donation of outdoor furniture to Opportunity Village, a not-for-profit vocational organization that serves people in the Southern Nevada community with intellectual disabilities.

  The Virginia Beach CVB is always looking for partners to help us demonstrate how “Virginia Beach Tourism Cares.” Interested in learning how to help? Contact Teresa Diaz at tdiaz@visitvirginiabeach.com or Teri Wiley, CMP, at twiley@visitvirginiabeach.com for more information.