Hilton “Small Change Big Difference” Fundraising Campaign
11.12.2009Company: Hilton Prague Hotel & Hilton Prague Old Town
Guests at Hilton hotels in Prague are making a big difference this winter to children with disabilities as Hilton in the Community Foundation launched a Europe-wide fund-raising campaign.
‘Small Change Big Difference’ is running in both Hilton Prague and Hilton Prague Old Town hotels for the first time throughout October, November and December this year. The campaign invites Hilton guests to add an optional €1 or its equivalent in the local currency onto their room bill during their stay.Simon Vincent, Hilton President Europe said: “This is a very exciting campaign and one that I hope our generous guests in the Czech Republic will support. By choosing to add an optional €1 we can help to change the lives of children in need. Working together your small change really can add up to make a huge difference.”
All proceeds raised from the campaign in the Czech Republic will be used to support Zilina (Central Bohemia) based charity Chance 4 Children (C4C). The funds generated from the campaign will be used specifically for C4C’s Springboard to Life program, teaching disabled children computer and English language skills. The program’s aim is to help disabled and mentally challenged children to become computer literate so that they can become self-sufficient when they enter adult life. To date, over CZK 80.000 has been collected from hotel guests as well as employees. The festive hand over of the cheque to the C4C representative will take place during the Hilton Christmas Charity Concert on December 20.
Hilton Hotels in Prague have been supporting C4C for more than five years. Within the Small Change Big Difference campaign there were additional activities organized by the hotels. A cake decoration lesson lead by the award-winning pastry Chef Youri Baltaliyski was organized by the Hilton Prague for a group of mentally challenged children. As part of the class, they had a tour of the hotel, received professional chef’s attire, had a demonstration by the pastry Chef and made their own creations with the cakes. At the end of the afternoon, each participant received a Hilton certificate and presents, as well as the cakes to share with their friends.
Hilton Prague Old Town has been providing a training room equipped with computers for regular weekly computer classes organized by C4C for children in need.
Both of the above activities are motivating for the Hilton teams, the cake decorating class resulted in a donation of 5.000 CZK by the kitchen team.
About Small Change Big Difference
‘Small Change Big Difference’ has been running since 2004 in the UK and Ireland, raising over €946,000 for charity, but has expanded this year to include Continental Europe for the first time. It is an exciting opportunity for hotels in Europe to give something back to the communities in which they work. 37 hotels in 11 European countries have joined the UK and Ireland to help to increase the money raised.
The campaign is organised by Hilton in the Community Foundation, the charitable arm of the Hilton family of hotels. Last year’s campaign was a huge success raising over €131,000 for international charity Save the Children.
