POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA, May 4, 2017 – Tourism in the Pocono Mountains benefits members of the community in more ways than you may know.The practice of philanthropy has been alive and well in the four-county region, and will continue to persevere in the area throughout the years. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) has made a point to give back to the community in numerous ways:

  • Annual Hospitality Scholarship Golf Tournament
    • The PMVB hosts a golf tournament every year for their scholarship fund to award local students accepted to, or currently attending, a post-secondary school with a major in the tourism or hospitality industry. Over $10,000 was raised last year alone!
  • Annual Tourism Games
    • Designed to celebrate the employees of the Pocono Mountains hospitality industry, Tourism Games has become a highly-anticipated event, and a way to give back to the community. Teams of up to ten compete in physical and mental challenges hosted by the property who won the previous year’s games. Proceeds are donated to a charity of the host property’s choice.
  • United Way
    • Last year, the PMVB raised over $5,000 for the United Way during their annual workplace campaign. Also, several staff members of the PMVB have served on the United Way’s funds distribution committee and the board of directors.

In addition to these efforts, the PMVB supports multiple non-profit organizations and events like the Pocono Mountains Community Fundraiser, Street-2-Feet, Toys for Tots, Lizzie’s Circle, and Feeding Families. Participating in nationally recognized charitable events, like Denim Day and Bring Your Dog to Work Day, is a fun way to boost team spirit while supporting local charities and raising awareness for these organizations. As a means to foster the philanthropic culture of the PMVB, employees are also given four hours off per year to volunteer at a charitable organization of their choosing.

PMVB members across the four counties are familiar with the idea of giving back to the community, too. Here are a few of the many resorts and attractions in the Pocono Mountains that are proud to show off their tradition of giving:

  • Pocono Whitewater, Pocono Biking, and Skirmish Paintball in Carbon County have donated more than $25,000 in value through activity passes in the past year to charitable groups, along with monetary or serviceable donations to St. Luke’s Hospice Care, Turn to Us, Family Promise, and many more.
  • Settlers Hospitality Group in Wayne County boasts a Green Lodging Program with the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, in which $2 per overnight reservation (at The Settlers Inn, Silver Birches, or Ledges Hotel) is donated to preserving the pristine natural Upper Delaware River region.
  • This year, The Lodge at Woodloch in Pike County, in addition to giving about $150,000 worth of in kind donations to local and national charities, will launch “The Longest Day” on June 21. This is a Brain Health Program, which is a challenge to raise awareness and donations for the Alzheimer’s Association.
  • Pocono Raceway in Monroe County has developed the Mattioli Foundation, which has helped to create and enhance local medical facilities such as the emergency department at Lehigh Valley Health Network – Pocono. Additionally, they have also donated to East Stroudsburg University, Downtown Stroudsburg, the United Way, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army, to name a few.

The Pocono Mountains region continues to give and grow. In a three-billion-dollar industry, tourism jobs account for 1/3 of the employment in the Pocono Mountains. That’s a lot of “giving back!”

About the Pocono Mountains
With 2,400 square miles encompassing Pennsylvania’s Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon counties, the Pocono Mountains region is home to rolling mountain terrain, breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls, thriving woodlands, and 170 miles of winding rivers. Winters offer guests the opportunity to ski, snowboard, snow tube and even snowshoe their way through snowy wonderlands encompassing over 163 ski trails, while summers also cater to the active traveler allowing exploration of 261 miles of hiking and biking trails, over 30 golf courses, whitewater rafting, boating, fishing, and open access to nine state and two national parks.

Pocono Mountains visitor information is available online at www.PoconoMountains.com or by phone at 800-POCONOS (800-762-6667). Follow @PoconoTourismPR on Twitter to stay current with up-to-date information. Established in 1934, the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit, membership organization. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the four counties of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

 

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