I didn't see this anywhere and figured some of you folks are doing this anyway, so you might as well get rewarded for it:
NEW YORK -- Some 50 hotels across the country are giving away a free night to guests who can prove that they completed at least eight hours of community service between July 1 and Dec. 20.
To qualify, you must provide a letter on the nonprofit organization's letterhead proving that you've completed the volunteer work at a 501c3 organization such as Meals on Wheels or Habitat for Humanity.
The hotels, all managed by Sage Hospitality, include The Nines in Portland, Ore., The Blackstone in Chicago and the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites in Arizona.
The room must be reserved at least 48 hours before arrival. Guests must pay taxes for the room. Blackout dates apply and there are a limited number of rooms available at each hotel.
Other participating hotels include the Sheraton Tempe in Arizona; the Courtyard Monrovia, Courtyard San Diego, and homewood suites Brisbane in California; the Courtyard Denver, hilton Garden Inn Denver and Residence Inn Denver; the hilton Garden Inn, Orlando, Fla.; the doubletree Atlanta; the Sheraton Chicago NW; the Courtyard Brighton, Detroit; the Fairfield Inn Duluth in Minnesota; the Sheraton Kansas City in Missouri; the Holiday Inn Omaha in Nebraska; the Fairfield Inn Las Vegas; the Marriott Charlotte in North Carolina; the Fairfield Inn Cincinnati North; the Courtyard Portland in Oregon; the Renaissance Pittsburgh; the Renaissance Providence in Rhode Island; and the Residence Inn Milwaukee.
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Just a reminder, folks, Sage doesn't guarantee a complimentary (i.e. free) night, but they are offering 50% off the published rate if a complimentary room is unavailable. Heck, even 50% off makes a great reward for something you're probably doing anyway!
What if a criminal doing court-ordered community service tries to use that to get the discount? Does the letter from the nonprofit organization make it clear whether the person is a volunteer vs criminal?
9000 said:What if a criminal doing court-ordered community service tries to use that to get the discount? Does the letter from the nonprofit organization make it clear whether the person is a volunteer vs criminal?Don't you have bigger things to worry about?
Anyway, court ordered service is probably not considered "volunteer service to a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization."
Wow thanks for posting. A lot of my family members, including myself, have done quite a bit of volunteer work so this may be a nice "thank you" for the help. Thanks again!
9000. I can't find anything in the terms and conditions that mentions anything about court-ordered community service. It wouldn't hurt to shoot them an e-mail.
Hmm... My brother and step-brother are doing college visits coming up in the next few months. Any idea if the high school required community service might count for this? It would certainly help save money seeing as both of them are eying out of state schools... Tuition costs galore!
gmimeson and 9000: I imagine that court ordered "volunteer" service as well as high school required service being eligible would be something to discuss with the organizations the individual is required to volunteer with. As HappyCamper09 said, it's not listed in the terms and conditions, so it's quite possible. Were it me, I'd discuss it with the non-profit, as they would be producing the letter for presentation.
fuzzymello said:gmimeson and 9000: I imagine that court ordered "volunteer" service as well as high school required service being eligible would be something to discuss with the organizations the individual is required to volunteer with. As HappyCamper09 said, it's not listed in the terms and conditions, so it's quite possible. Were it me, I'd discuss it with the non-profit, as they would be producing the letter for presentation.
Thanks for the heads up. I've forwarded the deal onto my dad, who is helping the two of them book their arrangements so if it works, I'll let everyone know!
I would guess that Service Learning required as part of HS graduation is already earning credit towards graduation. Court ordered service is a form of restitution.
I am posting this at my organization for all the volunteers and parents who truly volunteer their time to keep us up and running. You may check on a 501c3 organization by visiting guidestar.org
Genius069 said:Is it really volunteering if you are gaining something out of it?
The point is to reward people who have volunteered in the past- as a thank you. Sure, some people may volunteer for 8 hours just to get a free hotel night. But even so, they are helping others. I would say that the hotels offering this deal should be thanked, as they would be the reason those people volunteered.
But, I don't think many people will be running out to volunteer 8 hours for 1 night in a Hotel. Maybe some people will, and that is their choice. But honestly, in the end, people are getting helped. The hotels are most likely still getting money, (people will likely stay another night, or order movies, or whatever extra costs may be associated with hotels) so they are benefiting. The charities are benefiting from extra volunteers, and the people who the charities help are benefiting.
Does it really matter if you call it volunteering? Or is the point of volunteering, helping people, what really matters?
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