1/13/2016 Newsroom Article Giving Thanks: A Message from Our South Carolina Colleagues https://me2.ihgmerlin.com/web/news/article?id=42667996 1/3 Giving Thanks: A Message from Our South Carolina Colleagues Contact [email protected]24 Nov 2015 How your donaĕons to IHG® Shelter in a Storm made a difference for colleagues affected by floods in South Carolina. They were calling it a “1,000year flood” before the rain even stopped. Entire towns were under water and rescue teams plucked hundreds of residents from stranded cars and flooded homes all over South Carolina. Lives were lost and thousands were left with major storm damage and shocked by the massive cleanup ahead. At the Charleston Reservation Office (CHSRO), colleagues were pleased to learn IHG Shelter in a Storm was activated immediately following the floods to provide assistance. Managers quickly pulled together a list of those who were significantly impacted and 49 colleagues received assistance within days. Here are a few of their stories and messages of thanks to everyone who contributes to the IHG Shelter Fund. Voice Agent Fornesha Griffin said Oct. 3, 2015, is a date she’ll never forget. Fornesha had experienced hurricanes and storms before, but this one was different. After two days of rain, a pond formed in her backyard. Water seeped into her laundry room, the kitchen and, ultimately, engulfed the entire first floor, forcing her family to seek refuge upstairs. After the flooding subsided and Fornesha returned to work, colleagues were talking about IHG Shelter in a Storm and her manager informed her that she was eligible for assistance. 11 3 share ® ®
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1/13/2016 Newsroom Article Giving Thanks: A Message from Our South Carolina Colleagues
Giving Thanks: A Message from Our SouthCarolina ColleaguesContact [email protected] 24 Nov 2015
How your donaĕons to IHG® Shelter in a Storm made a difference for colleagues affected by floods in SouthCarolina.
They were calling it a “1,000year flood” before the rain even stopped. Entire towns were under water and rescueteams plucked hundreds of residents from stranded cars and flooded homes all over South Carolina. Lives were lostand thousands were left with major storm damage and shocked by the massive cleanup ahead.
At the Charleston Reservation Office (CHSRO), colleagues were pleased to learn IHG Shelter in a Storm wasactivated immediately following the floods to provide assistance. Managers quickly pulled together a list of those whowere significantly impacted and 49 colleagues received assistance within days. Here are a few of their stories andmessages of thanks to everyone who contributes to the IHG Shelter Fund.
Voice Agent Fornesha Griffin said Oct. 3, 2015, is a date she’ll never forget. Fornesha had experienced hurricanesand storms before, but this one was different. After two days of rain, a pond formed in her backyard. Water seepedinto her laundry room, the kitchen and, ultimately, engulfed the entire first floor, forcing her family to seek refugeupstairs. After the flooding subsided and Fornesha returned to work, colleagues were talking about IHG Shelter in aStorm and her manager informed her that she was eligible for assistance.
Fornesha said, “You never think something like this will happen to you.The assistance helped tremendously with the cleanup and getting thingsback to normal. We are so grateful to everyone for their donations. I knowthere are a lot of organizations out there you could support, but this onereally makes a difference for our colleagues.”
As the rain came pouring down,the roof in Sales Agent PhilEyraud’s mobile home sprangseveral leaks. The assistance hereceived helped keep Phil and hisfamily safe during this traumaticexperience. As a way to show hisappreciation, he and his familycollected extra canned goods for arecent food drive that was goingon at work.
Phil said, “I was blown away that IHG did that for us. I’m thankful we had a chance to give back with the food drive.My team got so into it, we came out on top with the most donations.”
Reservation Sales Specialist Melissa Wilson was caught off guard when thepower went out around 10 p.m. that Saturday night. She was at home withher four children, including a hungry baby. There was no stove, nomicrowave, not a candle in the house. Melissa looked out the back door andsaw nothing but water. Then, it started coming in the house, flooding theentire first floor and soaking the carpet upstairs. The air conditioning unitwas ruined, along with their clothes, coats, shoes and bedding.
Melissa managed to get her family over to her mom’s house and went rightback to work that Monday. She was relieved to learn there was help forcolleagues in immediate need. Melissa was reimbursed for essential livingsupplies and clothing for her children, as major repairs are being done on
her house.
Even though her roof nearly collapsed from high winds and falling tree branches, Voice Reservations TeamManager Kimberly Gibbs feels fortunate compared to others who lost entire homes and cars in the flood. She wascompletely stunned to receive assistance just a few days after the storm.
Kimberly said, “I had tears rolling down my face. I was just amazed at the helping hand extended to me. The firstthing I thought about was all the colleagues around the globe who keep fundraising with dress down days and other
1/13/2016 Newsroom Article Giving Thanks: A Message from Our South Carolina Colleagues
activities. You really make a difference. I was so touched by the show ofkindness, and I really want everyone to know how much I appreciate it.”
In sum a total of 89 colleagues throughout South Carolina from 13 hotelsand the CHSRO received vital assistance from IHG Shelter in a Storm. Inaddition, IHG contributed $30,000 to the American Red Cross to support itsontheground relief efforts for affected local communities.
Thank you for your continued support of IHG Shelter in a Storm. Yourcontributions help us keep the IHG Shelter Fund replenished so we’re readyto help when disaster strikes. Visit the IHG Shelter in a Storm website formore information, to make a donation or to download our fundraising pack.
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TRACEY HUSTEAD Posted on 09 Dec 2015
I am the general manager at the Staybridge Suites in North Charleston and I would like to commend Carlye Gaynes with Shelter in a
Storm. She was a HUGE help and very empathetic to me and my staff. Thank you Carlye for all you do. Tracey Hustead
Faustino Palomino Posted on 01 Dec 2015
Estoy de a cuerdo es una bendicion tener fondos para este tipo de desastres felicidades.
Roosevelt Winters Posted on 28 Nov 2015
It is truly a blessing to have the IHG Shelter Fund in place especially for colleagues/family when the need arrives.
