I-Drive Improvement District - 10th Annual Angel Tree Program
The International Drive Improvement District was able to provide clothing for 561 children plus 20 bicycles when it partnered with the
Salvation Army, WKMG Local 6 and 40 I-Drive District Partners for its 10th annual Angel Tree program this 2011 holiday season.
“With the current economy, there were so many families who needed a helping hand this year,” says Luann Brooks, executive director of the International Drive Master Transit & Improvement District.
“We are grateful that so many I-Drive industry sponsors participated in this program to help Orange County families in need.
Since 1865, the Salvation Army has been supporting those in need with this nationally recognized program that provides new clothing for underprivileged children. The structure of the program makes it easy and convenient for everyone to help a child during the holidays.
According to the Salvation Army, I-Drive participants provided more than 1,000 gifts that helped 561 children. In addition, I-Drive participants adopted the second highest number of angels and were responsible for 1/12 of all angels adopted.
Participating accommodations, attractions, restaurants and other businesses in the I-Drive area place a Christmas tree in a secure, high-employee traffic area. The tree is decorated with numbered paper angel tags with the first name, age and gender of a child who will receive a gift of new clothing. Contributors remove one or more tags from the tree and purchase the appropriate clothing for the child or children described on the tags. The sponsoring organization also serves as a secure collection point for the gifts.
2011 participants include: American Ad Specialties, ASAE Assoc. Now Magazine, Best Western Plus Convention Center, Brighton Collectibles, Costco Wholesale, Dairy Queen, Dave & Busters, DoubleTree Orlando, Embassy Suites Convention Center, Embassy Suites-Jamaican Court, Fairfield Inn & Suites-SeaWorld, Hampton Inn & Suites, Harbour Lakes, Hilton Garden Inn SeaWorld, Hilton Orlando, Hilton Walt Disney World, Image Marketing, International Drive Improvement District, Know Before U Go, Lake Eve Resort, Mears Transportation Group, Orlando Hotel & Suites, Orlando Premium Outlets, Pirates Cove Adventure Golf, Pointe Orlando, Putting Edge, Residence Inn - Orlando Convention Center, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, Sheriff’s Office - Sector 5, Sky Resort Management, Springhill Suites- SeaWorld, Staybridge Suites, Thursday’s CVB Leads Group, Westin Imagine, and Whole Foods.
The District began participating in this program in 2002 and each year it continues to grow. The objective is to provide gifts of new clothing for as many children as possible whose families registered for holiday assistance or children from child care centers and foster homes.
Jan. 2012