In the fall of 2015 I was given the opportunity to travel to San Diego, Ca. as part of a new campaign launch with my employer, Travelocity. Our campaign, “Travel for Good”, was a #voluntourism initiative, set out to inspire and generate follower/user content telling the stories of people who travel on volunteer missions.
Of these stories, dozens would receive a $500 credit through Travelocity with three big winners receiving an all-expense paid, dream volunteer trip of their choosing. Not only would they receive their dream #travelforgood #voluntourism trip, they would also be receiving a $10,000 donation to the non-profit of their choice.
As part of this new campaign, a handful of employees who wanted to #travelforgood were given the go ahead to plan a trip of their own. I was one of those employees. Through a collaborative partnership with my co-worker, Keland (Digital Distribution & Strategic Partnerships Marketing), we were able to foster a relationship with the
Make-A-Wish Foundation in San Diego. Through phone calls and emails with Chris Sichel, President/CEO of Make-A-Wish San Diego, we forged the path of our #voluntourism vacation. California, here we come!
For our first full day in San Diego, Keland and I spent the afternoon at the San Diego Zoo. It was a far better workout then we imagined. Absorbing the sheer size of the place was was enough to take deep pause, especially from the view of the sky lift. And the wildlife?! Pandas and gorillas relaxing on their backs, lions and tigers napping, creatures of all types snacking away.
We melted plenty of calories traversing the winding paths and hiking the hills of this lush sprawling 100 acre plot, in Balboa Park. If you are an animal and/or nature lover, definitely a must see when taking a trip to San Diego. It was a day well spent but the real mission of our visit was to be much harder work and far more personal. I don’t think either of us really knew what to expect.
This was a #voluntourism mission! We came to California to get our hands dirty and put in work as part of a wish team project. It just so happened we came on an abnormally hot weekend, it was like being back in Dallas. The next two days would be underneath a cloudless blue sky with the saturating hot face of the sun upon us. We endured to spend a weekend working on a meaningful and worthwhile project, spending time with amazing volunteers and an inspiring family.
The project, a backyard makeover, was for a very kind family who’s son (13 at the time) was fighting Leukemia. Knowing that while working with an amazing team of project organizers and volunteers made the labors of the day, a labor of love and laughter. Not to mention getting to use a jackhammer to break the ground (it was virtually rock beneath the surface). I also left my mark by having the opportunity to organize and lay the stone slabs leading out of the back entry.
We worked through to the last second before the reveal. What an amazing experience it was to see the families reaction, then to actually get to spend time with them and be welcomed into their home. Moments like these are where a selfless effort culminates to bring a sort of humbling gratification. The morning of our Monday flight to Dallas, Keland and I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Chris at the the Make-A-Wish San Diego headquarters. We met with more team members, took a tour of their offices and delivered a $5,000 donation on behalf of Travelocity. The proper end to a memorable #travelforgood #voluntourism experience.
