Recognizing the top 10 community service projects organized this year by MPI members, as selected by the editors of MPI.
Hurricane Relief
MPI and SITE chapters teamed up this year to provide relief to those affected by Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas. Similar to the relief efforts that these organizations provided following the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria in the USVI and Puerto Rico, teams were deployed to The Abacos and Grand Bahama Island. By working directly with the Consulate General and The Bahamas Tourism Organization, donation funds—more than $11,600 to date through the SITE | MPI Abacos & Grand Bahamas Recovery Fund—were distributed to where they were needed most. MPI’s Florida chapters also coordinated a statewide effort that combined fundraising resources with MPI North Florida, MPI Tampa and MPI South Florida, as well as SITE Florida and Caribbean, while MPI Global and SITE Global encouraged association members to get involved in fundraising efforts.
Reforestation in the UNESCO Sonian Forest
Sustainability was top-of-mind for Pieter Allaert, chair of MPI’s European Advisory Council, when planning a community service project for the MPI Foundation. For every donation of €250 of more, a tree was planted in Belgium’s UNESCO Sonian Forest, regenerating life within the ecosystem and leaving a legacy through the MPI Foundation. “We decided to pick a sustainable action so we didn't only benefit the MPI Foundation but we also made the world again a little healthier,” Allaerts says. “Since I am based in Brussels, I checked with the local forester to see if we were allowed to grow the forest, which they happily accepted. A first symbolic tree was planted during the council's board retreat here in Brussels.”
Allaerts hopes that all European chapters will be inspired to start organizing sustainability-minded events for the MPI Foundation. “However big or small the initiative, every effort will be highly appreciated.”
Raising Awareness on Human Trafficking
In an effort to raise awareness on the prevalence of human trafficking, the MPI Georgia Chapter volunteered for the second year in a row to serve lunch at Covenant House, a local shelter that takes in juveniles who are victims of human trafficking. Covenant House spans six countries and 30 cities; the Atlanta branch has helped more than 18,000 homeless, runaway and trafficked youth since opening in 2000.
Serving Transitioning Women
The MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter completed its 4th ECOS project this year that saw 15 members gathering with Soup Sisters to make soups for Bryony House, a local shelter for women and children in Halifax. ECOS2019 was sponsored by Freeman AV Canada at the new Kitchen Door Catering. “Soup was cooked, laughs were had and networking was done! Great night for our chapter,” according to the MPI Atlantic Canada Chapter team. Soup Sisters Halifax launched in 2014 with a group of 30 inaugural Halifax soup-makers who chopped and diced over 200 servings of nourishing soup for Bryony House.
A Shoreline Cleanup
MPI Toronto Chapter members joined the Toronto Region Conservation Foundation at Coronation Park this year for a shoreline cleanup event. In less than two hours, they collected nearly 50 pounds of trash—small bits of paper, plastic and cigarette butts—which are the most fatal pieces of trash for wildlife as they stay in their systems and eventually kill them. “Jasvinder Singh won the challenge of collecting the most trash,” reports the chapter. “He filled two buckets.”
Fighting Child Poverty
MPI’s Iberian Chapter, in partnership with Cava Codorniu, Gallery Hotels, Only You Hotel Atocha and the Catalunya Convention Bureau, is working with a national NGO that fights against child poverty with two simultaneous events held tonight in Barcelona and Madrid. “Our aim is to change the world for the better, especially for the most vulnerable people: children,” according to the chapter. The events are open to all members, partners and suppliers and the agenda with an agenda to meet, cheer for Christmas and bring presents for the children of the Madrina Foundation. This NGO helps children by supporting women. “We want to bring as many presents as possible to these children and help them to enjoy Christmas time as any other child in this country.”
Allowing Children to Enjoy Childhood
MPI’s Philadelphia Chapter has teamed up with Cradles to Crayons to herald in the fun and glory of wintertime with its “Gear Up for Winter” program, which supplies warm winter gear to children whose families struggle just to stay warm. Donations of just $33 are providing a child with the essential items they need, including a week’s worth of clothing, a pair of winter boots, a winter coat, hat, gloves and any additional essentials they may need. “For families in need, a Philadelphia winter can be debilitating,” states the chapter. “No child should have to wait at the bus stop in below-freezing temperatures without a coat.”
Feeding Those in Need
The MPI Ottawa Chapter pitched in with the Ottawa Food Bank in numerous ways throughout the year, whether competitive corporate and community sorting “challenges” at the warehouse throughout the year, taking part in the “CBC Project Give" telethon or Food Aid Day, a BBQ on the grounds of City Hall. In winter months, committee members volunteered at the Snowsuit Fund’s warehouse by handing out warm snowsuits and accessories to those who required assistance.
Responsible Event Day
Focused on sustainability, The Ouai, or Responsible Event Day, was organized this year in Marseille by MPI’s France-Switzerland Chapter. More than 200 participants from the events industry, as well as CSR representatives and entrepreneurs, gathered to discuss shifting toward a circular economy, community involvement and ecological stewardship, and to compete with ideas for responsible events of the future. Artempo produced the trophy offered to the two winners: a customized terrarium, symbols of the green and lighting future for the tomorrow eco-responsible event.
A Holiday Shopping Experience
For the second consecutive year, the MPI Heartland Chapter is volunteering at the Omaha Hope Center for Kids for their Annual Holiday Shopping Experience. At the event, kids and young adults—kindergarten to 12th grade—who may otherwise not be able to partake in Christmas giving get the opportunity to "shop" for holiday gifts with fake money provided by The Hope Center. During the event, each grade will have a specific amount of time to shop and wrap their presents, with the assistance of volunteers. This is their opportunity to choose new gifts for loved ones without the experience and time of shopping and wrapping the gifts on their own.
