In an effort to aid hotel workers impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, which left a trail of catastrophic flooding and devastation as they passed through the Southeastern United States, The Above and Beyond Foundation is calling for donations to fund its urgent-aid program. All donations will be used to provide $500 grants to hospitality professionals in need. Donations can be made through TAABF's website.
TAABF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing, rewarding and supporting frontline hospitality workers. Since its founding in 2018, the organization has distributed nearly $1 million in total grants, according to founder and CEO Mary Jo Valentine Blythe. This includes aid in other times of crises, such as grants for workers who lost employment during the early days of the pandemic and in the wake of the Maui wildfires last summer.
"Our overall mission is to recognize the individuals on the front line of this business because without them, event planners wouldn't be able to execute their programs," said Blythe. "In a time like this, with such devastation, giving back is another way of thanking them."
Focus on those hardest hit
Aid for Hurricane Helene victims will focus on people in Asheville, N.C. — one of the areas hardest hit by the storm. Meanwhile, Hurricane Milton efforts will focus on Florida. Grants will be distributed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis. Hotels and businesses can nominate up to 10 employees per property for Hurricane Helene Urgent Aid Relief grants.
"Our goal is to help as many industry colleagues as possible," says Blythe. "Some of these people have lost their homes and don't have anything left."
All grants are donations based, so the number of people TAABF is able to help is restricted to the amount of money the organization receives.
Later this year, TAABF will partner with Northstar Meetings Group to coordinate a live auction at the Northstar Leadership Forum, to be held Dec. 15-18 at The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, Calif. All funds raised will be used to continue TAABF's grant programs for 2025 and beyond.
