SHAWANO, WISCONSIN—(SEPTEMBER, 2017)—NEWH members, safe from the path of Hurricane Harvey, watched the gut-wrenching destruction the hurricane had wrought on Texans and immediately asked the question a caring, hospitality organization would do, ‘How can we help?’ said Shelia Lohmiller, Executive Director of NEWH.

With so many organizations establishing themselves as the go-to for relief and aid, the NEWH Executive Committee members determined that NEWH efforts would be connected to the REBUILD TEXAS FUND. For those not familiar with the various efforts surrounding Hurricane Harvey, the REBUILD TEXAS FUND is being generously supported by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation, who together will be absorbing the people and administrative costs of managing the donations used for recovery, relief and rebuilding in this effort.

Beyond raising funds for the REBUILD TEXAS FUND, with commitments from NEWH Corporate members now totaling in excess of $15,500, members have also given more than $5,000 to the Greater Houston Community Foundation. NEWH will give a year of membership, at no charge, to all members who have been affected by the hurricane, added Lohmiller.

NEWH chapters across the country are collecting children’s clothing, business attire, building materials, for home and office, furniture and much more.

“We are proud of how quickly and generously our industry stepped up to help those in need as a result of Hurricane Harvey. Hospitality has many meanings, but at the heart of it is the caring people who make up our great industry,” Lohmiller proudly stated.

So far, the following companies have donated to the Rebuild Texas Fund:

Ashley Lighting
Berndardt
Karndean
Lexmark+Hospitality
Mandy Li Collection
NEWH, Inc.
P/Kaufmann
RH Contract
SemFim
Séura, Inc.
Signature
ST Media Group
Summer Classics

Additionally, the following NEWH Member companies are donating cash, services, and products to other Hurricane Harvey assistance charities:

Crypton
Durkan
Fabric Innovations
Fabricut Contract
Installation Services Group
Kimball Hospitality
Shaw Hospitality
Vaughan Benz

NEWH feels certain that there are many more companies and individuals donating to ease the pain caused by the recent hurricane. NEWH continues to monitor weather reports as hurricane season continues threatening communities across the southern states and up the eastern seaboard.

ABOUT NEWH
NEWH is the leading nonprofit hospitality industry network, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, professional recognition of excellence and business development opportunities. Since 1981, NEWH scholarship candidates pursuing hospitality careers in design, culinary arts and hotel management have been the beneficiaries of nearly $4.5 million for scholarships made possible through volunteer fund-raising initiatives at the local, national and international level.
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