We support the industries we serve and the communities we’re a part of

The AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), exists to inspire, support, and elevate all who work in the hospitality industry.

It helps hoteliers, vendors, and educators in this industry invest in people so they stay and grow in the industry long term along the hundreds of career paths available. In doing this work, AHLA Foundation has reinvested more than $40 million back into the hospitality industry by way of providing support in recruitment, retention, development, and advancement efforts.

Here’s what this looks like just in the past year:

• Over 1m dollars in college scholarships to students studying in 2 or 4-year hospitality degree programs.
• Travel scholarships to bring 60 students from HBCUs to the major industry conferences.
• Partnering with community-based organizations through its Empowering Youth Program to introduce 500 opportunity youth to this industry this year.
• Enrolling 500 apprentices in three different career training tracks for certification with the Department of Labor, across 80 employers – the largest year of growth in the Apprenticeship Program to date.
• More than $30,000 in professional development scholarships to facilitate upskilling or certification for industry employees.
• Facilitating 240 mentoring relationships through its one-of-a-kind cross-industry mentorship program.
• Surpassing the goal of 1 million completed anti-trafficking trainings by hotel employees through the No Room For Trafficking program.
• Hosting the No Room For Trafficking Summit to unify and educate industry leaders and to honor the first recipients of the NRFT Survivor Fund Grant Program and awarding a total of $500,000 to survivor-supporting organizations.

By donating to the AHLA Foundation, we're increasing its ability to reinvest in people who are serving in all levels of this industry supporting U.S. hospitality as a whole.

Behind their smiles and slick service, hospitality workers can fall upon hard times just like anybody else. The industry is stressful, with long hours, high pressure environments and physically demanding work.

Injuries, mental health problems and addiction are sadly a feature of modern life in the hospitality trade. That’s where Hospitality Action steps in. It works to provide hospitality workers with financial, physical and psychological support to help them overcome adversity and get back to work as quickly as possible. It helps individuals and their families stay afloat with grants to cover anything from rent payments to school uniform for their children. And for those who sadly can’t return to the industry they love, it provides ongoing support to transition them to the next stage of their lives.

For older people who have retired from the industry, it provides grants to help with heating bills, home conversions or even funeral costs for loved ones. Just as importantly, it provides a lifeline to prevent loneliness and isolation, and its ‘Golden Friends’ enjoy regular contact and local events to help them stay active and connected to their community.

To find out more about Hospitality Action's work and the difference it makes, visit https://www.hospitalityaction.org.uk

Founded in 1987, the NRAEF is the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association (established in 1919). The NRAEF works to attract, empower, and advance the future learners and leaders of the foodservice industry. ProStart, the cornerstone program of the NRAEF, is a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students.

The program annually reaches approximately 150,000 students in 1,900+ schools in all 50 states, District of Columbia, the Territory of Guam, and Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific. By bringing together the industry and the classroom, ProStart gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents to open doors for fulfilling careers. It happens through a curriculum that includes all facets of the industry – culinary arts and restaurant management, and sets a high standard of excellence for students and the industry.

As the industry of opportunity, the NRAEF provides proper workforce development, mentorship, and connections in foodservice and hospitality. Through generous partnerships, the NRAEF has been able to deepen the investment on the future of the foodservice industry.

To find out more, please visit ChooseRestaurants.org/ProStart

Founded in 1832, retailTRUST is the trade charity for everyone involved in UK retail. The Trust’s vision is to improve lives across the UK retail sector and supporting service industries including wholesaling, distribution, manufacturing and ecommerce.

retailTRUST supports employees throughout their lives, from getting into retail all the way through to retirement.

Money raised goes towards:

• Improving people’s emotional, physical, vocational and financial wellbeing.
• Supporting individuals during times of need through non-repayable grants.
• Providing a much-needed safe haven and happy community for retail retirees.
• Offering personal and professional development opportunities, training courses and digital resources.

retailTRUST provides a free and confidential helpline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The friendly and experienced team can be contacted on by emailing helpline@retailtrust.org.uk

For more information about the difference the charity makes, visit retailtrust.org.uk