For nearly a decade, an organization made up of volunteers from Michigan’s hospitality and tourism industry has been helping keep destination attractions across the state in top shape, ready for visitors. Now, the very people who comprise that organization find themselves on the sidelines from their own jobs and in need of a helping hand themselves.
The organization called Michigan Cares for Tourism (MC4T) is once again supporting the statewide tourism industry and needs everybody’s help. That’s the organization that has been hosting annual events to rejuvenate and refresh Michigan’s historic, cultural and natural attractions, and it is now turning their mission inward to provide support for the people who are the faces of many of Michigan’s tourism destinations, and launching the “They Care, We Care, Michigan Cares for Tourism” online fundraising campaign. You can donate directly at the link below:
It is essentially an opportunity for those who love to travel in Michigan to make a difference for the more than 600,000 hospitality, lodging, and food services employees across the state. Every dollar of each donation will go directly to the housekeepers, servers, tasting room staff, destination marketers, cooks or maintenance technicians who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Patty Janes, is a Grand Valley State University professor and coordinator for the Michigan Cares for Tourism program. She says, “For the past eight years, Michigan’s tourism industry employees have volunteered their time, talents, and resources to breathe new life into attractions and destinations around the state through our Michigan Cares for Tourism clean-up events. Many of these same volunteers have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.” She says, “We are hoping those who care about Michigan’s tourism industry as much as we do will be willing to make a donation to the front line employees in need, to help ensure our favorite travel destinations are fully functioning once we are able to travel again.”
As a token of appreciation Michigan Cares for Tourism will send a thank you gift for each donation. Janes reports, “We want those who love and appreciate the many tourism offerings in their community to have an item that shows it,” and adds, “Donors will receive a Michigan Cares for Tourism sticker, t-shirt, hat, water bottle or Michigan stepping stone showing their level of support. Our organization is buying these items to give so 100-percent of every donation goes directly to those in need.”
Michigan Cares for Tourism is working with the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA) to make sure donations go directly to employees through The Michigan Hospitality Industry Employee Relief Fund, just one of several initiatives dedicated to supporting Michigan tourism employees during COVID-19.
This initiative is supported by the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan, a collaborative organization that unifies the travel and tourism industry and gives Michigan’s travel and tourism leaders a strength of purpose, knowledge, and support.
Michigan Cares for Tourism, a 501C3 organization, is a volunteer partnership between Michigan tourism organizations, chartered by Grand Valley State University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Department, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Travel Michigan, Tourism Cares, and Indian Trails. MC4T has coordinated 28 volunteer events engaging 3,100 tourism industry volunteers in vital clean up events at treasured Michigan tourism locations to help sustain Michigan’s tourism industry for the future since 2013.
For additional information on Michigan Cares for Tourism visit online at the link below or email icare@michigancaresfortourism.org. Here’s the direct link:
