Funds will be used for grants to those experiencing financial hardship

NEW YORK (May 31, 2023) – The Family Bonds Foundation, a charitable initiative of Internova Travel Group, partnered with Travel Leaders Network to build awareness of its financial relief program during the recent EDGE Conference in Nashville, Tenn. The campaign helped raise $182,000, which will be used to award Family Bonds Foundation grants to individuals who are suffering from illnesses, natural disasters and more.

The fundraiser consisted of a silent auction and raffle as well as monetary donations from travel advisor members and supplier partners. Prizes included first-class air tickets, luxury cruises, stays at Internova’s SELECT hotel and resort partner properties, electronics and more, which were provided by such partners as Viking Cruises, Avalon Waterways, AmaWaterways, Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Sandals Resorts.

“I am thrilled about the generosity that was shown at EDGE,” said Jackie Friedman, President of The Family Bonds Foundation. “Travel advisors and suppliers are among the most generous people out there, and I love that people were able to donate and have the chance to win amazing travel prizes.”

At EDGE, attendees heard from someone who has received a grant from Family Bonds. Laurie Zeller, a travel advisor member of Travel Leaders Network spoke about how Family Bonds helped her during her battle with cancer. “Even with excellent health insurance, cancer treatment is never fully covered and there are many out-of-pocket expenses,” Zeller said. “The financial drain is the last thing that someone needs when they are fighting to save their own life. Family Bonds greatly helped relieve some of that financial burden for me and for so many in need. I encourage others to donate to Family Bonds and to also nominate those who are struggling. I never dreamed I would be in this position, but I can attest to the fact that these donations have a true and vital impact on people’s lives.”

Friedman continued, “The $182,000 that we raised in conjunction with EDGE will do so much good. Our grant recipients come from many walks of life, but they all have one thing in common: they need a helping hand during the hardships they encounter. There is so much need in the world, and I want to thank our donors and supplier partners for their generous contributions.”

Grants are open to everyone in the travel industry, regardless of their affiliation. To nominate someone, please visit https://www.familybondsfoundation.com/nominate/. To date, over 200 grants have been awarded. Family Bonds’ next grant cycle will close on July 15, 2023.

To donate to Family Bonds Foundation, please visit https://www.familybondsfoundation.com/donate/. Everyone who donates at least $20 will receive the Family Bonds Foundation’s e-cookbook, The Family Table, a collection of recipes from top cruise lines, hotels, resorts, destination partners and airlines.

About Family Bonds Foundation

Founded in 2015 by Travel Leaders Group President John Lovell, the Family Bonds Foundation serves the charitable needs of those who work within the travel industry as well as the broader community. Grants are awarded to support those needing assistance as a result of natural disasters, illness and a variety of other types of financial hardship. Travel Leaders Group is a division of Internova Travel Group. The Foundation Board, which includes Internova Travel Group executives, travel advisors and preferred partners, review the nominations and award grants the following year.

About Internova Travel Group

Internova Travel Group is one of the largest travel services companies in the world with a collection of leading brands delivering high-touch, personal travel expertise to leisure and corporate clients. The company manages leisure, business and franchise firms through a portfolio of distinctive divisions and  represents more than 70,000 travel advisors in over 6,000 company-owned and affiliated locations predominantly in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, with a presence in more than 80 countries.