As
a part of Hilton Garden Inn's You Can Count on Us community relations
program and to recognize the six-month marker since the storm, team
members from across the Tri-State area participated in New York Cares
semiannual Cares Day serve-a-thon to rebuild South Beach Park,
cleaning and replanting the garden areas that serve as a seasonal
playground for many local residents.
You
Can Count on Us is Hilton Garden Inn's signature community relations
program that sets out to nurture and nourish communities in which
team members live, work and travel. The program is a part of Hilton
Worldwide's Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility engagement,
a commitment to furthering the company's vision of "filling the
earth with the light and warmth of hospitality."
For
their efforts in Staten Island , team members were awarded The
President's Volunteer Service Award, the premier volunteer awards
program in the United States, which recognizes individuals and groups
that complete the number of required hours within a 12 month period
for each award level. Bronze level groups are required to reach a
total of 200 hours with a minimum for three persons.
Earlier
in the week, the team at the Hilton Garden Inn JFK Airport in Queens
hosted a barbecue for Sandy victims who were displaced by the storm
and are still living at the hotel. Families enjoyed a DJ,
refreshments, face paintings and the entertainment of two clowns, who
created balloon animals for the children attending. Hilton Garden Inn
team members also distributed toiletries, clothing and children's
toys that local businesses had donated.
Several
local residents, who lost their homes to Hurricane Sandy, are still
staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island and Hilton Garden Inn
JFK Airport. Over the past six months, the Hilton Garden Inn staff –
many of whom were affected by the hurricane themselves – has
created a home for those displaced by the storm.
Richard
Nicotra , Chairman/President of The Nicotra Group, LLC, owner of the
Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island, has led many of the efforts to help
his community and its residents recover.
Nicotra
continues community outreach and support. He hosted a relief benefit
with his wife Lois in late 2012, raising nearly $150,000 for the
Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation for Sandy Relief. The
Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island has partnered with the Siller
Foundation to raise funds and gather donations for victims
of Sandy, while also directly supporting local families and
businesses in the area.
