GOOD DEEDS: Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton and Texas Roadhouse Contribute To Community Projects

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island VolunTeaming worked with Texas Roadhouse restaurants to implement their annual Humanitarian Day. Beneficiaries of contributions (corporate volunteers plus over $110,000 in funding) included the Barnabas Center, YMCA, Fernandina Park & Recreation, Nassau Humane Society and local Council on Aging.

Helping Hands: Corporate Volunteers Laying Sod at Fernandina Field
Helping Hands: Corporate Volunteers Laying Sod at Fernandina Field

Meeting Groups Connect Through Community Service at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

Amelia Island, Fla. – When meeting planners leave site tours at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island they might be thinking about the Ambassador that is at their service. The Ambassador is Ms. Cindy Heeter who serves as a group’s dedicated point-of-contact for community service projects also known as VolunTeaming projects.

Community service projects have proven to be effective engagers and build team camaraderie. “The challenge is programs start in the local community and that’s difficult for a meeting planner to coordinate from their home market,” says James E. McManemon, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. To assist planners, Cindy Heeter was appointed, VolunTeaming Ambassador to build relationships with local non-profits to better align them with the budget, philosophy and time allotment of each contributing corporate group. The effort has worked for both small and large scale groups.

In April 2014, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island VolunTeaming team worked with Diania Ciresi, Community Relations Manager for Texas Roadhouse restaurants to implement their annual Humanitarian Day for 1,000 store manager’s, corporate office personnel and vendor partners. “Our annual Community Service objective is to include diverse projects that touch different factions of lifestyles and interests and Cindy Heeter found the partner mix we feel best reflects our philosophy,” says Ciresi.

Meeting Groups leave volunteer legacy on Amelia Island community

Amelia Island area organizations (and others) that benefited from the contributions of over $110,000 included:

Barnabas Center – 3,000 Food Backpacks for Kids against Hunger Campaign
YMCA PrYme Time – Constructing classroom space to a community after school program
City of Fernandina Park & Recreation – Installing sod for Peck Center soccer field, plus new pavilion
Nassau Humane Society – Dog Park enhancements and new kennel bedding
Council on Aging – Porch enhancements at Senior Center
USO – 150 bikes assembled for military families
Gracie’s Kitchen – Soup kitchen in Yulee
Wine to Water – International food and water purification systems

The program was deemed a success by all parties involved. “Texas Roadhouse Humanitarian Day leaves a legacy of community service that will be long remembered,” adds James E. McManemon, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

Texas Roadhouse was named by Forbes Magazine (April 2014) as “one of America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies.” Additionally, according to Glassdoor (a career search website), Texas Roadhouse was voted “one of the nation’s Top 50 Best Places To Work.” Also visit Texas Roadhouse restaurants’ website for further information.

For more information about The Amelia Island Ritz-Carlton hotel, visit their website (or call 904-277-1100).