PITTSBURGH—The holidays can conjure up many thoughts about family. For some, it might be children in matching pajamas all snug in their beds, dreaming of the surprises that await them under the tree. For others, their thoughts are centered on giving back to needy families in their communities.
To make sure no child is forgotten this holiday season, Fairmont Pittsburgh has teamed up with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation for the second year in a row through various programs, including a holiday happy hour event with gift donations and the Trees of Hope overnight package—both of which benefit the hospital’s Free Care Fund, a program that ensures every child in the region receives the care they need regardless of their families’ insurance or ability to pay.
“There are a lot of people who need the help. We’re fortunate to work with a great company, with great benefits, and our colleagues here can get the care they need. Not everyone is as privileged as we are and it’s important to find ways to contribute beyond the four walls of the hotel,” said Matthew Sterne, GM at Fairmont Pittsburgh. “We’ve always done lots of donations to Children’s Hospital, but this is the second year that we put a package together, planned a reception and allowed guests to drop off gifts and donations. Our goal is to do better than we did last year. We want to keep making it more meaningful. We’ve already exceeded our goal a month before Christmas, and we have exceeded the amount of donations we did last year.”
Forging strong relationships with organizations in the community, volunteerism is woven into the fabric of Fairmont Pittsburgh. When it came to supporting the Free Care Fund, it wasn’t difficult to rally the associates to get behind this effort.
“We work with a lot of organizations, and different people gravitate to different causes and have different passions based on their life experiences. When we send out a note asking, ‘Who wants to participate at registration or reception,’ people are happy to do it and it makes them feel good giving back,” said Sterne. “It speaks to the people we hire. In hospitality, it’s the people who like to engage and they are givers. We have worked with Grow Pittsburgh, Greater Literacy Council, Western Penn Humane Society, as well as others—all wonderful organizations that are local. We try to focus on where we can make an immediate impact that benefits the local community here.”
Fairmont Pittsburgh’s charitable efforts don’t end when the holidays are over; it’s an ongoing aspect of how the hotel does business throughout the year. Sterne credits the Fairmont brand for encouraging staff to give back and play an active role in their community through acts of kindness and generosity.
“For the organizations we support, we do little benefits here and there. It’s a lot of the little things. It’s not the one big, grand event and it’s about having an ongoing presence in the community,” he said. “These events are great for team-building. We also go to schools lacking in resources and will build a composting bin and garden—what a great way to spend a Saturday morning. There isn’t one magic thing, but it’s something every day and every week that we do.”
—Corris Little