The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club partnered with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services to provide necessary school supplies to children in the Division of Children and Families Foster Care Program for the third consecutive year. The backpacks full of crayons, pens, notebooks, calculators and other back-to-school items will be presented to the office of Division of Children and Families by representatives of the resort at 5:30 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 20
HR provided lists of needed items for 94 children to The Ritz-Carlton, and employees from every department of the resort donated the needed supplies and school bags. The first names and ages of the children were given so the bags were age and gender appropriate.
“Our ladies and gentlemen understand that having the right tools is an essential part of a child’s education. We are proud to have the opportunity to positively impact the future of our community’s children through this donation,” said Ron Parker, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, St. Thomas.
Participation in “Backpacks for Success” is just one of many corporate responsibility initiatives that encompass The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas Community Footprints program. The resort’s employees also participate in The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the Boy Scouts Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament, Reef Fest and community clean-up programs across St. Thomas. In addition, Community Footprints has expanded to offer volunteering opportunities to resort guests through the Discover Coastal Waters program that involves tourists in a hands-on snorkel excursion to collect important fish population and species data, with proceeds going to the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
For more information on The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas’ community efforts, contact Jennifer McQueen, public relations, at 775-3333 ext. 8618.
