A boy presents
Ingo Raeuber with a certificate of gratitude for making their day at the
beach a most memorable one.
Scott Smith
An exciting day at the beach for the children from the
Camillian Home was hosted by Ingo Raeuber, group general manager of the
Pinnacle Hotels, Resorts and Spas. 25 residents and staff arrived at the
Pinnacle Grand Jomtien in the morning and immediately headed to the beach to
enjoy the sun, sand, sea and surf. The children spent hours swimming,
building sand castles, flying kites, playing football and otherwise having a
great time. A bountiful lunch was served at the Beach Restaurant and Bar
before the children jumped into the swimming pool to cool off.
A happy Faisal Malik observes
the touching moment as Ingo warmly hugs the boy from the Camillian home.
The Pinnacle Grand Resort in Jomtien sponsored the annual
event to celebrate Camillian Home’s resident “Pan’s” 17th birthday. The
Camillian Home in Lat Krabang is home for 45 underprivileged children living
with HIV/AIDS and disabilities. Founder of the Pinnacle Group and chairman
of the Youth Leadership Development Foundation (YLDF), Dr. Vongbhum Vanasin
has a history of contributing to a myriad of socially responsible
initiatives in Thailand and has indeed been practicing Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) long before the invention of the word. Dr Vongbhum and
Ingo have served on numerous executive committees for organizations such as
Skๅl, Rotary Club and YLDF and have built strategic alliances between the
tourism industry, the community and schools throughout Thailand.
The day at the beach was organized by students from two
tourism organizations at Assumption University; PATA AU Satellite Chapter
and Young Skๅl Thailand.
Pan celebrates his 17th
birthday with a colourful birthday cake.
Scott Smith says, “Encouraging tourism students to build
networks with leaders in the industry can be intimidating for students and
young professionals, but having the students organize and participate in CSR
activities such as the day at the beach at The Pinnacle Grand Resort tends
to take the pressure off. The students are developing their social and
professional skills, and having fun.”
Membership in non-profit organizations such as Young Skๅl
Thailand and the PATA - AU Satellite Chapter offer students opportunities to
establish relationships with industry leaders while helping the community.
Both Skๅl and the Pacific Asia Travel association (PATA) are well-known
organizations that represent the tourism industry and have demonstrated a
strong commitment to CSR for many years. PATA has recently celebrated its
60th anniversary and the Skๅl club has been active in Thailand for more than
50 years.
‘Little’ Scott Smith is no
match for the boys while playing football on the beach.
“There are many foundations and charities forming
partnerships with hospitality companies in Thailand, and research has shown
that a focused CSR strategy results in greater rewards for everyone,”
according to Ajarn Scott. “The Camillian Home at Lat Krabang is a wonderful
facility that you can feel comfortable contributing to, the children are
loved and well cared for, and the operations are conducted with
transparency.”
Long time volunteer Faisal Malik is the communication
director for the Camillian Home and encourages everyone to get involved and
help those less fortunate, “Most of us can consider ourselves privileged,
and with this privilege comes a responsibility and obligation to care for
the underprivileged.”
Kids and adults having a fun
time in the swimming pool.
Father Giovanni Contarin came to Chonburi 20 years ago to
provide care for those living with HIV and AIDS in Thailand. In 2008 the
Camillian Home in Lat Krabang was opened to provide specialized care for
children living with HIV/AIDS and disabilities. In addition to providing
full-time care for orphaned or abandoned children, the Camillian Home team
members work with mentally and physically challenged children from the local
community providing physical therapy and medical care as well as education,
transportation and meals.
The kindness and generosity of companies like the
Pinnacle Grand Resorts and Spas is critical to the success of charities like
the Camillian Home, which operate almost entirely from private donations.
Tourists, tourism organizations and those of us lucky enough to live in
Thailand are encouraged to donate time, money or resources to help those
that can not care for themselves. Visit the www. camillianhomelatkrabang.org
to learn more about their fantastic work and get involved today!
Children having a wonderful
time on the beach and in the sea.
