'Phenomenal' hospitality partners adopt Volusia County schools, donate goods and services

Snacks, jet engines and hotel stays are just a few of the items local businesses have donated to Volusia County schools lately through an adopt-a-school program.

The partnership between the schools and the business community is in “full force” several years after the program restarted, and the hospitality industry is on a mission to find adopters for the last nine of 67 traditional public schools, most of which are in West Volusia, according to Bob Davis, president of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County.

“(It’s important) from elementary, and especially elementary and middle school, that we show the kids that we care, that the business community is aware and that we can guide them,” Davis said in a recent phone interview.

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Davis says the program has grown to 250 members, including 100 hotels, plus 150 hospitality allies in adjacent fields such as pool equipment and patio furniture.

Starke Elementary in DeLand has 'phenomenal' partner

The Hampton Inn & Suites in DeLand has been an active partner with Edith I. Starke Elementary since adopting the school a few years ago.

"It's very important to not only myself but to our company as a whole that we remain active in our communities and supporting our communities,” Nicole Thims, hotel general manager, said. “Children are the future and the future of our workforce, so their education is extremely important to us as well as giving back and volunteering, making sure that the families know that we're here and we're here to help.”

The hotel has contributed to Starke in many ways, including painting its gazebo; donating carpets; landscaping; painting parking lot and sidewalk lines; donating snacks to students and teachers; donating hotel stays to families and volunteers; and offering space for events.

Thims says getting more involved in the school has taught her a lot about the community and how much hard work school staff puts in.

Principal Eilene Ahr says Thims has done a phenomenal job and the Hampton is the best partner they could ask for.

“Anything I need, she's there to support,” Ahr said. “I absolutely love the partnership between us and the businesses because our students see that (act of) giving.”

She elaborated that her team uses the program as an example of giving to show the students that it often feels better to give than receive.

“It is amazing because sometimes you get wrapped up in your own business world,” Thims said. “It really grounds you back into the community because we're all part of the community. We can't survive without them and vice versa.”

A wide variety of donations have been made

The list of items the partners have donated or services they have provided to other adoptees goes on. Davis says more than 100 computers were donated to Campbell Middle School a couple years ago, plus 24 laptops to Palm Terrace Elementary, both in Daytona Beach. The partners provide hotel stays or gift certificates to Teacher of the Year nominees and other individuals. They may host a Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas breakfast for staff. Some have built shade pavilions or provided other services.

Davis has also distributed miniature jet engines donated by the airport for science and technology programs to use. Another friend, who isn’t a member of the hospitality association, renovated Edgewater Public Elementary’s teachers’ lounge, he said.

“Whatever is asked and we can do, we do our best to do,” Davis said, noting it’s not about money.

Volusia County's hospitality industry employs 51,000 people, he said, and he believes there are many high-paying trade and technical jobs that students may be interested in if the community nurtures them.

“We're not there to preach hospitality,” he said. “We’re there to help them get along with a career.”

Davis said he hears about students’ aspirations when he visits schools, especially when he gives out the jet engines.

"I want to be a teacher. I want to be an astronaut. I want to be a pilot,” they’ll tell him. “Well you give them their dreams and you start feeding them early on.”

Adopt-a-school program in full force after reboot

Davis had started a version of the program two decades ago that didn’t last, but Domien Takx, vice president of operations for Premier Resorts & Management, resurfaced the idea a few years back, and it quickly caught on. Now, 58 schools have been adopted.

“There’s many ways that you can help schools,” he said. “It’s not all about papers and pencils and reams of paper. You can help schools with being a judge of a talent show or you can be there to give them gift certificates for deserving teachers.”

Takx’s company manages five hotels and has adopted several schools between the hotels and the corporate office.

He says the group provides breakfast to teachers once a semester. They’ve also donated 60 pairs of sneakers to students, a TV for a teachers’ lounge, sofas for school lobbies and meeting space outside of the schools when needed, among other goods and services.

“The hotel industry is giving back in many different ways and this is one of them,” Takx said. “The hotel association members will continue to pick up schools, will continue to work with schools and have an effect on lives of school children in Volusia County, and that’s always been my goal.

As for Davis’ plan to have the remaining nine schools adopted, he is networking every day with those in the industry about becoming a partner. For information, email him at bdavis@daytonahotelmotel.com.

Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hotel partners adopt Volusia County schools, donate goods and services