HAL Ship Officers Build 110 Bikes for Kids.......

[Krazy Kruizers]

Holland America Line Ship Officers Build 110 Bikes for Kids Helped by International Rescue Committee in San Diego

 

Seattle, WA, April 02, 2010 - During a conference of Holland America Line’s senior officers from 14 ships and corporate management staff, 110 bicycles were assembled to donate to International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global non-profit organization for refugees, with offices in San Diego.

Fifty-five bicycles were donated last Saturday following the first series of three-day meetings in San Diego and the second half will be delivered this week following the second series of meetings. The children and families involved with IRC were invited onboard ms Oosterdam March 27 for lunch, entertainment performances and bike safety training.

“We gathered in San Diego to review a number of important issues surrounding the safe operation of our vessels with our senior staff,” said Dan Grausz, senior vice president, fleet operations. “San Diego is one of our homeports and we thought this would be a great way to engage in a team building activity with our staff and provide something back to the community.”

Holland America Line has been involved in philanthropic efforts in the San Diego community since it first became a homeport for the line in the late nineties. The company has supported several local organizations such as San Diego Opera, San Diego Zoo, Rady Children's Hospital, North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Symphony, UCSD Moore's Cancer Center, Las Patronas and San Diego Girl Scouts through cash donations and in-kind support. In addition, through partnerships with the Port of San Diego and Alpha Project in 2009, Holland America Line has also contributed donations of toiletries and reusable goods from ships in port to individuals and families in need through the company’s community charitable program, Ship to Shelter.

“We’re extremely grateful for Holland America Line’s generosity and we would like to say thank you on behalf of IRC and our families,” said Colleen Krause, IRC Family Education Program Manager. “All of these children grew up in refugee camps where food, clothing, and shelter were scarce. For most, this will be the first bike that they have ever owned. Our refugee children are so thrilled — Holland America Line is making their dream come true!”

As a global leader in emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of human rights, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression, IRC anticipates helping 1,300 refugees this year to rebuild their lives in San Diego. The organization offers comprehensive services for refugees to assist in the acculturation process, such as citizenship and immigration, community health and food security, employment, economic development, family education, financial literacy, microenterprise and youth programs.

For additional information and volunteer opportunities through IRC, please visit www.theIRC.org or email colleen.krause@theIRC.org.

Editor’s note: Images available at http://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WYqe-CzG-fT0.

 

- www.hollandamerica.com -

[IRL_Joanie]

Excellent! Thank You Yonnie for this info and the link!

 

Great to see HAL continuing to help kids:)

 

Joanie

[Krazy Kruizers]

I also thought it was great for them to do that.

[PathfinderEss]

Nice idea indeed for Hal to do this for the kids.............

[solocanadian]

Holland America Line Ship Officers Build 110 Bikes for Kids Helped by International Rescue Committee in San Diego

 

Seattle, WA, April 02, 2010 - During a conference of Holland America Line’s senior officers from 14 ships and corporate management staff, 110 bicycles were assembled to donate to International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global non-profit organization for refugees, with offices in San Diego.

Fifty-five bicycles were donated last Saturday following the first series of three-day meetings in San Diego and the second half will be delivered this week following the second series of meetings. The children and families involved with IRC were invited onboard ms Oosterdam March 27 for lunch, entertainment performances and bike safety training.

“We gathered in San Diego to review a number of important issues surrounding the safe operation of our vessels with our senior staff,” said Dan Grausz, senior vice president, fleet operations. “San Diego is one of our homeports and we thought this would be a great way to engage in a team building activity with our staff and provide something back to the community.”

Holland America Line has been involved in philanthropic efforts in the San Diego community since it first became a homeport for the line in the late nineties. The company has supported several local organizations such as San Diego Opera, San Diego Zoo, Rady Children's Hospital, North Coast Repertory Theatre, San Diego Symphony, UCSD Moore's Cancer Center, Las Patronas and San Diego Girl Scouts through cash donations and in-kind support. In addition, through partnerships with the Port of San Diego and Alpha Project in 2009, Holland America Line has also contributed donations of toiletries and reusable goods from ships in port to individuals and families in need through the company’s community charitable program, Ship to Shelter.

“We’re extremely grateful for Holland America Line’s generosity and we would like to say thank you on behalf of IRC and our families,” said Colleen Krause, IRC Family Education Program Manager. “All of these children grew up in refugee camps where food, clothing, and shelter were scarce. For most, this will be the first bike that they have ever owned. Our refugee children are so thrilled — Holland America Line is making their dream come true!”

As a global leader in emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of human rights, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression, IRC anticipates helping 1,300 refugees this year to rebuild their lives in San Diego. The organization offers comprehensive services for refugees to assist in the acculturation process, such as citizenship and immigration, community health and food security, employment, economic development, family education, financial literacy, microenterprise and youth programs.

For additional information and volunteer opportunities through IRC, please visit www.theIRC.org or email colleen.krause@theIRC.org.

Editor’s note: Images available at http://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WYqe-CzG-fT0.

 

- www.hollandamerica.com -

Great for HAL to do this. It must be the "Dutch" thing. While in Vancouver at the Holland Heineken House in Richmond during the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Dutch had hundreds of bycicles for loan for the athletes and family to use getting from A to B and the Ice Skating Oval. This kind and generous gesture was enjoyed by all.:D

[esther e]

Just another reason to love HAL. Thanks for the information.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

Great for HAL to do this. It must be the "Dutch" thing. While in Vancouver at the Holland Heineken House in Richmond during the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Dutch had hundreds of bycicles for loan for the athletes and family to use getting from A to B and the Ice Skating Oval. This kind and generous gesture was enjoyed by all.:D

 

I didn't know that -- thanks for the information.

[Harry1954]

very nice gesture of HAL and their crews ... just like the one where when we were in Dominican Republic in late January of this year, they were offloading tons of supplies for Haiti that had been collected from other ships and amassed on Noordam, compliments of HAL and its crews.

harry

[Himself]

The officers of HAL are a good bunch of guys. Thanks for sharing the information

[Tricia724]

What a nice uplifting post. I also remember seeing some of the HAL staff bringing supplies ashore in Brazil when we went up the Amazon. Somehow the commitment to helping others makes it more a people-to-people organization, and, for me, it makes a lot of the nitpicky things that we fuss about seem trivial in comparison. Thanks KK.

[Wild Thing ~T]

:dnice!! Class act hal!!!! Thank you!!