Kimpton is encouraging its employees to give generously of their time to raise money and awareness for deserving local and national charities. Kimpton has released the stellar results of this year’s “Kimpton Cares” month, during which approximately 65 percent of hotel and restaurant employees nationwide volunteered their time and expertise to make a positive social and environmental difference on a local level. Kimpton also announced the renewal of its partnership with national charity organizations, including Trust for Public Land, Dress for Success and the Red Ribbon AIDS Awareness Campaign, as part of its larger Kimpton Cares program, which runs throughout the year.
Kimpton employees coordinated and participated in a variety of community service events, including blood drives, working with local meal-delivery services, running etiquette classes for inner-city youth and donating considerable money to the local chapters of Dress for Success, Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Key highlights from “Kimpton Cares” Month include:
—Sanguine Soiree: New York-based 70 park avenue hotel collected over 25 pints of blood in one day from hotel employees and guests
—Food for Thought: The San Francisco-based Harbor Court hosted a food drive collecting more than 75 lbs. of food over five days
—Hearts for Kids: Thirty employees from all three Kimpton Seattle properties taught kids of the Ronald McDonald House how to make Valentine’s Day Cards, in addition to sponsoring a festive pizza and cookie party
—Cocktails for Canines and Cats: Employees at the Washington, D.C.-based Helix raised more than $1,000 by selling raffle tickets and specialty “Pet Peeve” cocktails at a fund-raising event to benefit the Washington Humane Society. The money collected during that evening alone helped the charity to rescue over 100 animals
—Tree Planting in San Francisco: Employees of San Francisco-based Blue Mermaid Chowder House and Restaurant teamed up with the Friends of the Urban Forest to plant trees in the city. Volunteers planted trees in the Bay View neighborhood and then fed all local community volunteers from the Friends of the Urban Forest.
“Kimpton has a long standing history of community involvement at all levels of the organization. ‘Kimpton Cares’ evolved out of our philosophy as business leaders we have a responsibility to serve the community,” says Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels. “Ultimately, we believe that as our communities prosper, so do we all,” Leondakis added. “Kimpton’s strong commitment to social contribution hinges on a culture of employee participation. Many of our employees volunteer their time and energy to a variety of charities and causes including our national partners, Dress for Success and Trust for Public Land.”
Additionally, employees were encouraged to participate in the Kimpton Cares Heart Contest, to create a heart that answered the question, “If you were a heart, what would you look like?” The response was overwhelming, and more than 20 properties participated and submitted a heart.
On a national level, Kimpton is a strong supporter of charitable programs including:
—Trust for Public Land:
Through Kimpton’s EarthCare program, individual hotels and Kimpton’s Home Office commit to reducing their ecological footprint while conducting day-to-day business. Kimpton has strategically aligned itself with organizations that are respected and recognized in environmental circles and share similar goals and objectives such as the Trust for Public Land, the only national nonprofit entity dedicated exclusively to the preservation of land for public use. Kimpton Hotels has an ongoing commitment to the Trust for Public Land to increase awareness and donations.
—Dress for Success:
Kimpton is the exclusive hospitality sponsor of Dress for Success. Dress for Success is a nonprofit organization committed to helping disadvantaged women thrive in the workplace. Dress for Success provides business attire, career development and skills for employment retention. During the months of March and April, Kimpton celebrates Women’s History Month with a campaign to raise funds and awareness for Dress for Success. Kimpton also sponsors the organization’s annual Success Summit.
—AIDS Awareness:
Kimpton supports the Red Ribbon Campaign by assisting HIV service organizations across North America through employee volunteerism, educational campaigns, corporate donations, and fund-raising events. Kimpton also annually hosts fund-raising parties on World AIDS Day (December 1), coast-to-coast, to benefit its affiliated non-profits.
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