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The TreadRight Foundation, The Travel Corporation (TTC)’s not-for-profit, has announced the recipients of its second annual Tread the Pledge Fund. Created in 2019, the fund’s purpose is to recognize and support the involvement of TTC’s family of Travel Directors, Trip Managers and Travelling Concierges in community support projects worldwide. This year’s awards are particularly meaningful as local organizations globally need funding more than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Travel Corporation’s Travel Directors and Trip Managers are integral to TreadRight’s mission to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®, and a critical link between guests and the stories of the not-for-profit foundation’s projects and TTC’s sustainability initiatives. TreadRight supports sustainable travel projects categorized in its three pillars of Planet, People and Wildlife, and has funded 60-plus initiatives to date. Throughout Covid-19’s year-long disturbance to the travel industry, TreadRight has continued to fund all projects through 2020 and now into 2021. Travel Directors, representing Contiki, Trafalgar, Costsaver, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises were asked to nominate projects in December 2020, and winners for the 2021 Tread the Pledge Fund were selected in March.

The Bamboo School in Cambodia, one of four recipients of the Tread the Pledge Fund 2021, provides free education and mentorship to children whose families are unable to fund their schooling.

'The passion of our Travel Directors and their involvement with the communities they visit and the initiatives they support truly exemplifies TreadRight and TTC’s shared ethos to tread right,' says Brett Tollman, Chief Executive of The Travel Corporation. 'Despite being grounded right now with their jobs on hold, their continued commitment to our mission to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® hasn’t gone unnoticed, and we’re thrilled to be able to support the projects close to their hearts,' Tollman added.

The four chosen organizations are spread out globally and will each be awarded a grant of $2,500 USD to support their efforts:

  • Window of Opportunity in India, nominated by Rik Sprengers of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. The organization’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty and support the work of local artisans by collaborating with the most vulnerable communities and those affected by Covid-19. Through the facilitation of jewelry sales, Window of Opportunity helps local artisans become self-sufficient.

 

  • Barefeet Theatre in Zambia, nominated by Maeve Henry of Trafalgar and Costsaver. Barefeet Theatre’s mission is to enhance the lives of vulnerable children and young people through creative opportunities to learn, express themselves and reach their full potential. The organization addresses issues such as homelessness, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, abuse and child trafficking.

 

  • Good Neighbors in Rhode Island, (USA) nominated by Robin O’Malley of Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold. Good Neighbors is a local food pantry operating out of a space provided by a local church. They have adapted to Covid-19 restrictions in order to deliver food, and even expanded to provide hygiene supplies. The organization is critical in feeding communities in the area impacted by Covid-19.

 

  • Bamboo School Chum Teav in Cambodia, nominated by Rhiannon Bryant of Contiki. Through education and dedicated mentorship, Bamboo School envisions a world where children grow up with knowledge and opportunities, and strive to make positive change in the world. The curriculum aims to cultivate inspired young people who care for their community members, their country and their planet.

For more information and to hear more about these projects as they’re launched throughout the month of April, please visit TreadRight.org, and join us as we MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® by signing The Pledge.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is a registered trademark of the TreadRight Foundation.