Ensemble Travel Group’s sixth annual Make-A-Wish charity event broke the previous company record, raising $152,000 during its international conference at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.
In its six years running the event, Ensemble members and partners have raised a total of $613,000 for Make-A-Wish. This year, funds were raised from a combination of raffles and a live auction held at the Circle of Excellence Gala on October 21. Make-A-Wish San Diego’s Stefanie Munoz, community partnerships manager, expressed her gratitude for Ensemble’s donations.
The night prior to the Circle of Excellence Gala, Ensemble staff met with Julie, a Make-A-Wish child at SeaWorld San Diego. Her and her family enjoyed a private feeding session at the park and then went out for dinner and a show with Ensemble.
During the Gala, Ensemble members met Layla, another local Make-A-Wish child, and her family, who shared her story. President and CEO of MEI Travel Beci Mahnken, CTC-MCC, Operations Manager Annette Jackson, and their team put together a collection of Disney memorabilia and signature items for Layla and her family. MouseFanTravel.com, MEI Travel’s Disney specialty division, worked with their Disney friends to gather gowns, Santa and reindeer pillows, bubble bath, feather boas, gloves, and personally signed cards of encouragement.
MEI Travel also donated $8,000 cash (the cost of a wish for a Make-A-Wish child) during the live auction.
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