Staffers at the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa are not only helping out coworkers at times of need, but their counterparts around the hospitality industry.
On Tuesday a group of employees gathered for an impromptu ceremony at the hotel, where a yearB次元官网网址檚 proceeds from their payroll deduction program was passed along to their charity of choice, the B.C. Hospitality Foundation.
Through the program called Tip Out to Help, resort staff raised $12,197 for the foundation, which helps industry workers in financial crisis due to injury or illness, and offers industry-related scholarships to hospitality workers and their families.
B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 why itB次元官网网址檚 so special, itB次元官网网址檚 not an event that we held, everyone took a little piece of their paycheque and put it towards this cheque for $12,000. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty amazing,B次元官网网址� said Jennifer Burgin, human resources manager at the resort.
Two staff members at the Westin have received benefits from the foundation. Having beneficiaries in their midst has helped encourage more employees to get on board with the voluntary program, she said. B次元官网网址淲e really treat each other like brothers and sisters, so when someone is faced with an illness, it really hits home and it hurts, we feel it for them as we would a family member.B次元官网网址�
When staff heard that a member of the housekeeping staff had been diagnosed with cancer, Burgin said, the immediate thought was B次元官网网址榟ow can we help?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately, EI benefits donB次元官网网址檛 cover the entire duration of a sickness, so sheB次元官网网址檚 in her second week of chemo and thereB次元官网网址檚 no more money coming in.B次元官网网址� Of the finalcial help, Burgin said, B次元官网网址淚t couldnB次元官网网址檛 have come at a better time for her. This dramatically changed her life and weB次元官网网址檙e all so happy for her.B次元官网网址�
The total number of staff at the resort ranges from 300 to 400, depending on the season.
One of those staff, golf sales manager Chris Currie, remembered being asked whether he wanted to donate to the foundation when he first started working at Bear Mountain.
He said B次元官网网址榶esB次元官网网址� right away, but has since seen the value of the organization and its work helping those in the industry.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great foundation; weB次元官网网址檙e always talking about how we can build awareness about it,B次元官网网址� Currie said. B次元官网网址淎 lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 know that if theyB次元官网网址檙e stuck with some difficult situations B次元官网网址� they can approach (the foundation), and often the answer is a positive one.B次元官网网址�
HeB次元官网网址檚 thrilled with how well Bear Mountain staff have supported the cause.
B次元官网网址淲e host plenty of charity golf tournaments and theyB次元官网网址檙e happy as clams if they raising $5,000 or $10,000, so this is a significant amount and we wanted to celebrate a little bit more.B次元官网网址�
B.C. Hospitality Foundation executive director Rowena Veylan said the organization has had slow, but steady growth in its 10 years of existence, especially on Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淭he support of those in the industry from the Island has been incredible,B次元官网网址� she said, explaining, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a sense of community B次元官网网址� a lot of people weB次元官网网址檝e talked to have worked up and down the Island, or travel and stay connected with other people in the industry.B次元官网网址�
Bear Mountain also hosts an annual fundraiser golf tournament for the foundation in September, which last year brought in more than $20,000. Veylan said the foundationB次元官网网址檚 fundraising goal for the year is $500,000 and the donation from the resort staff is B次元官网网址渉uge amount of moneyB次元官网网址� to come from one site.
For more information on the charitable organization and its programs, visit .
