Today's post is written by Jennifer Nash, Points of Light’s senior manager for HandsOn Network affiliate-corporate engagement.

Over the past week, Hilton Worldwide’s Global Week of Service has united Team Members and volunteers to extend the “light and warmth of hospitality” to the world. I was proud to join Hilton’s efforts and see our HandsOn Network affiliates working side by side with Team Members across the country; dedicating their time, talent and resources to make this a successful program.

This week featured hundreds of amazing service projects around the world and is one of Hilton Worldwide’s first enterprise-wide efforts uniting more than 300,000 Team Members in their passion for hospitality and service. Hilton Worldwide realizes volunteering together is critical to building a strong culture, strengthening its operating communities and supporting its global growth. Here at Points of Light, we know that people have always been at the center of change and we are thrilled to work with wonderful partners like Hilton Worldwide to create positive change and address the critical needs of communities around the world. 

On Monday, Nov. 12, Hilton Worldwide’s Global Week of Service kicked off on Veterans Day at the ACCA Child Development Center in northern Virginia with Team Members from the greater Washington, D.C. area and HandsOn affiliate Volunteer Fairfax.  Points of Light Board Chair, Neil Bush, and Christopher J. Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton Worldwide, started the day with encouraging words about the impact of Global Week of Service on the hospitality industry. Volunteers and families of ACCA worked on painting projects with the children, installed a museum hanging system in the hallways where the children’s art will be displayed and painted the fences surrounding the school to bring it up to county code.

U.S. veterans were also the highlight of projects in Memphis, Tenn., and Orlando, Fla. In Memphis, Hilton Worldwide volunteers raised money for the construction of a two-story gazebo at the Alpha Omega Veterans Services transitional housing complex. For the day of service, they put finishing touches on the gazebo, planted trees and shrubs to surround the yard and installed three raised garden beds. In addition, Hilton Worldwide hosted a special luncheon for the veteran residents at Alpha Omega. They honored the men and women veterans by screening an appreciation video that was created by the Memphis area Hilton Worldwide employees and served the veterans a Thanksgiving-themed lunch to show appreciation for the sacrifices and patriotism they have given to this country.  

As one of our Hilton Worldwide volunteers, Tammy Call, shared, “It was such a fun day. I met a veteran yesterday, James Shannon, and it was so touching to hear his story as he had tears in his eyes. As I was lying in bed last night thinking about the activities of the day, it occurred to me how very blessed I am and how things in my life would be very different had I not had folks like James fighting for the rights that I have. Volunteering is not about the recognition or getting time out of the office for me - it is completely about the feeling that I had last night. The saying is true - giving is SO much better than receiving. I look forward to MANY more opportunities to give back.”  

Thanks to all of the Team Members and volunteers for making such an amazing difference during this year’s Hilton Worldwide Global Week of Service.