Teachers and school administrators of both public and private schools can take advantage of this special, limited-time offer by booking their trip at any Westgate Resort property and traveling any time through September 9, 2012. Choose from one of Westgate Resorts’ premiere destinations – which include Orlando, Florida; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Las Vegas, Nevada; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Miami, Florida; Williamsburg, Virginia; Park City, Utah; Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; Daytona Beach, Florida; and Tunica, Mississippi – and experience an amazing vacation adventure for your whole family!

Whether you wish to explore world-class theme parks such as Walt Disney World Resort or Universal Orlando, hike through the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains, tee off on championship golf courses, catch world-class live entertainment, ski down white-powder slopes, step back in time at Colonial Williamsburg, go horseback riding at an authentic dude ranch or simply relax under a palm tree on a white-sand beach, you will discover a Westgate Resort property to meet your family’s needs.

Many Westgate Resort properties feature such family-friendly onsite amenities as heated outdoor pools, children’s wading pools, basketball and volleyball courts, miniature golf, marinas, free scheduled transportation to theme parks, activities programs (including scheduled activities, special events and supervised programs for guests of all ages) and Kid’s Clubs, as well as a variety of dining options ranging from sit-down grills to delis and pizza delivery.   

To take advantage of Westgate Resorts’ exclusive Educators Discount, simply call 1-800-792-1082 or visit www.westgatedestinations.com/apple for more information.

About Westgate Resorts
One of the largest resort developers in the United States, Westgate Resorts features luxury resorts in eleven premier travel destinations throughout the United States with over 12,000 units in locations like Orlando, Florida; Park City, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia; Miami, Florida; Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Tunica, Mississippi. Founded in 1982 by David A. Siegel, Westgate Resorts boasts affordable luxury vacation accommodations. For more information about Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.

*Terms & Conditions: Offer is valid to teachers and school administrators of public and private schools. Must show proof of your educator status to receive discount. Based on rate plan availability. Must travel between May 1 and September 9, 2012. Some blackout dates apply. Not applicable to groups and may not be combined with any other promotion.

A volunteer congratulates a Special Olympics athlete. Westgate Resorts will have 50 volunteers at the 2012 State Games in Orlando.

The Special Olympics 2012 Florida Summer Games will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex on May 18-19, 2012. In addition to more than 1,500 athletes who are competing in bocce, cycling, soccer, tennis, track & field, and volleyball, 50 employees of Westgate Resorts will be on hand as volunteers.

Westgate Resorts is a proud Presenting Sponsor of the Track & Field Games and the company quickly filled its 50 available volunteer positions for the two-day event.

The 2012 State Summer Games are expected to attract 1,580 athletes and 670 coaches/delegates plus an additional 500 family members. The most popular sport is bocce, with 650 participating athletes. Soccer will include 350 athletes, cycling and tennis each have 100 athletes and volleyball has 280 athletes registered.

The Games will be televised via tape-delay on the Sunshine Network. Opening Ceremonies will take place at Champions Stadium from 8:30-9:30 am on May 18.

Following two days of exciting competition, the Special Olympics athletes will enjoy a fun-filled Closing Ceremony at Champions Stadium on May 19 at 7:45 pm followed by a Victory Dance in the HP Field House.

2012 Games Schedule:

Thursday, May 17

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Delegation Registration – Celebrity Hall – located in parking lot behind Disney’s All-Star Sport and Disney’s All-Star Music Resorts

Friday, May 18

8:00 am – 1:00 pm Delegation Registration – Celebrity Hall – located in parking lot behind Disney’s All-Star Sport and Disney’s All-Star Music Resorts.

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Athletics – Track & Field Complex

Bocce – Doubles/Team Competition Diamondplex Fields 14-15

Soccer – Soccer – Hess Sports Fields 16-19

Soccer Skills – Hess Sports Field 20

Tennis – Tennis Complex

Volleyball Team Competition – JostensCenter

2:00 pm – 5:30 pm Healthy Athlete Initiatives – ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Dinner – The Sports Experience

8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Opening Ceremonies – Champion Stadium

9:45 pm – 10:0 0pm Head Delegates Meeting – Champion Stadium

Saturday, May 19

7:30 am – 5:00 pm Athletics – Track & Field Complex

8:00 am – 2:00 pm Tennis – Tennis Complex

Softball Throw – Multi Purpose Field 16

8:00 am – 5:00 pm Volleyball Team Competition –JostensCenter

Soccer – Hess Sports Fields 16- 19

Bocce – Singles Competition, Diamondplex Fields 14-15

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 pm Cycling – Touchdown ParkingLot

Soccer Skills – Hess Sports Field 20

Healthy Athlete Initiatives – ESPN Wide World of Sports® Complex

11:00 am – 1:00 pm Lunch – The Sports Experience

5:00 pm – 7:15 pm Dinner – The Sports Experience

7:45 pm – 8:30 pm Closing Ceremonies – Champion Stadium

8:30 pm – 10:00 pm Victory Dance – HP Field House

For additional information, please visit www.sofl.org/.

Hospitality Helps: Industry opening doors for homeless

By Mark Waltrip

Recent columns on the Central Florida homeless problem highlight the need for a more effective and coordinated approach to this challenge. For the past several months, Westgate Resorts has been working on potential solutions to this problem.

Several months ago, our company was approached about helping several families who were fighting homelessness. They were cramped into one-room motel units and struggling to get on their feet.

Since then we have interviewed four families, all of whom are good and decent people who were caught up in a downward spiral of financial ruin that they could not control. Their children were well-mannered and, in spite of the many obstacles, were doing quite well in school.

We adopted these families, found suitable jobs that matched their abilities and located safe, affordable housing. Our team members got involved and raised money to seed their new lives, and we engaged our vendors and business partners to provide everything from bedding to kitchenware.

While we are pleased with these victories, we thought if one company such as Westgate could help change the lives of 22 people, imagine what could be done if the entire community came together.

Based on this notion, we started meeting and aligning with other corporations, government agencies, faith-based organizations, nonprofits and individuals to coordinate the many resources that already exist. This effort has evolved into a private–public partnership called Hospitality Helps that is being spearheaded by the hospitality industry to help Central Florida families transition out of homelessness.

The objective of Hospitality Helps is to create sustainable solutions for families caught in this desperate situation through a six-step action plan: Identifying and locating families that can be helped; locating affordable housing; matching families with available jobs; providing clothing, furniture and other necessities; securing reliable transportation; and implementing follow-up support services.

From our experiences thus far, we have learned the following:

Homelessness is a significant issue that is detrimental to the core values of the Central Florida community and the hospitality industry. Central Florida is the No. 1 vacation destination in the world, and we need our industry leaders to invest in our community and send a message to the world that we don’t just sell hospitality — we live it.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. There are segments of the homeless population that require resources beyond what a public-private partnership can support. This includes drug, alcohol, criminal and mental-health issues that require specialized services, and unfortunately, many of these people are blended into the same living environment as families with children.

We need to better quantify the different categories of homelessness, and design programs that are tailored to the specific needs of these categories. Hospitality Helps is targeting families who are ready to be integrated into the work force of local companies, but this is only one segment of the problem.

There are numerous wonderful individuals and organizations that are providing support and services to the various elements of this problem, including government agencies, local companies, and charitable and faith-based organizations.

What we are not seeing is an effective coordination of these resources directed at the different segments of the homeless population. Our next step is to establish a community workshop to identify and coordinate any person or groups that can provide services and support for Central Florida’s homeless population.

The Central Florida homeless problem is really a national problem that demands nationwide resources. Because of our unique blend of moderate weather, abundance of unskilled labor jobs and lax zoning enforcement on motels in the Orange Blossom Trail and U.S. Highway 192 corridors, we have become the landing zone for homeless people across the country.

While imposing a sales tax on the local community might help, we need to share the financial burden at the federal level. This is a state of emergency that should be treated like a national disaster.

We welcome involvement, on any level, from anyone who wants to work with us to bring solutions to this challenge.

The efforts were recently highlighted by WFTV in Orlando.  To see how Westgate Resorts is helping, click the link below:

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/companies-partner-together-help-homeless/nMYBH/

After receiving keys from Westgate President David Siegel, the Mendez family checks out their Ford Aerostar, provided by the Westgate Resorts Foundation.

The mission of the Westgate Resorts Foundation is to actively support charitable activities in areas where our employees live and work. Emphasis is placed on our employees, children, women, families, seniors and other local programs that improve the quality of life in our communities.

Thanks to donations from Westgate families and others, that assistance can come in many different forms. One Westgate employee and his family recently received assistance in the form of a Ford Aerostar van.

The Mendez family has two children, including one with special needs. When their vehicle was stolen, the family experienced difficulties in getting to work and school. Those difficulties were alleviated on March 1, 2012 when Westgate President David Siegel presented the Mendez family with keys to the van, which had been donated to the Foundation by another Westgate family.

The van donation is just one more way the Westgate Resorts Foundation remains a driving force in creating a better tomorrow for others.

On October 2, 2005, Westgate employees Trib and Jasmin Persaud became the most uncomfortable, sad and dejected family when their 21 year old son Anand died as a result of a car accident just five minutes from their home in Clermont, FL. Their son was kind, lovable and one whose passion for life and making people happy made him the apple of many eyes wherever he went.

Anand’s chapter in life came to a close after all attempts failed and he was pronounced brain dead; but he instantly became a hero as his passion for life, his giving, sharing and supportive nature motivated his parents to say “yes” to organ donation.  His organs were given to six wonderful recipients – giving them each a second chance at life.

The Persaud’s son’s love for mankind and precious gift of life paved the way for their involvement in the selfless act of organ donation.  Their story of Anand and the organ donation journey never gets old, and is always refreshing to the ear and pleasant to the heart.

Seeing the tremendous impact of organ donation, the Persaud’s have developed a passion to seek meaningful ways to educate, spread and bring knowledge, comfort and hope to families and recipients across the world on giving the gift of life.  They have had the opportunity both locally and nationally to touch lives and interact with a number of donors, recipients and organ donation professionals. Therefore it was the Persaud’s desire that the Westgate family also become aware that we all have the power to “Donate Life” because as Jasmin’s so lovingly said, “What a waste it would have been, had we not donated Anand’s organs.”

By this summer, 6,000 employees at 27 different Westgate Resort locations nationwide will have seen a video highlighting the Persaud’s inspirational story and been given the opportunity to register as organ donors in their respective states of residence.

Westgate Resorts is proud to be a Partner for Life in support of those who have so unselfishly donated and for those who are awaiting a life-saving miracle.

Wayne State is a public research university located in Detroit’s cultural center historic district. Founded in 1868, the university’s 13 schools and colleges offer more than 400 major subject areas to more than 32,000 undergrad and graduate students. Despite its size and prestige, Wayne State’s athletic program remains small due to limited funds and limited facilities.

David Hughes is an Area Manager with Westgate Resorts in Branson, MO and his son Logan is an assistant baseball coach at Wayne State. So when the Warriors were looking for assistance to send the WSU baseball team to central Florida to compete, the Westgate Resorts Foundation stepped in to help.

Westgate Resorts provided Wayne State’s baseball squad with accommodations in Orlando, allowing the Warriors an opportunity to compete in a spring tournament in central Florida. But in between their tournament games, the team gave back to our community.

On March 12, Wayne State partnered with the Westgate Resorts Foundation to organize and provide a free baseball camp for young athletes in Ocoee at the Ocoee Little League facility. Wayne State players and coaches led clinics for the eager youngsters, focusing not just on baseball fundamentals, but teaching teamwork and academics, as well. The result was plenty of tips, smiles and laughs for all who participated.

This is the second year that Wayne State has provided camps for Central Florida’s young athletes.  Last year, the team held camps for Special Olympics Florida, the Weeks II Success Foundation (an Orlando-based group promoting academics and baseball to inner city youth), the South Orlando YMCA and the Pine Castle Little League over a two-day period.

The tornado did not hit either of the Westgate Branson Resort properties and no damage was reported. However, some area businesses and attractions were affected and certain areas were without power. If you are planning a trip to Branson in the coming days, you are encouraged to contact attractions and shows you are planning to visit to verify availability.

Navaeh with dolphin at SeaWorld.

Orlando remains a magical place – and not just for vacationing families looking to live it up in the area theme parks. Orlando is also a popular destination for families with children coping with life threatening health conditions.

One such family recently traveled to Florida with their beautiful young daughter, Nevaeh, who was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor last fall. While in Florida for medical treatments, they decided to make the short drive to Orlando for a visit to SeaWorld® Orlando. At SeaWorld, they enjoyed a private meet & greet with some dolphins. As an added bonus, the family also received an unexpected, complimentary stay at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa.

Following is an exerpt from a message Nevaeh’s mother sent following their Orlando getaway:

“Thank you for thinking about her. She is a strong and confident girl and she will fight this battle. Nevaeh had a hard last 5 months and she did not have very many days she could enjoy, so to see her last Thursday loving every minute of her day and saying how happy she was, made Mike and I so happy. Thank you so much for all you did for our family that day. I wish you could have seen her face when we walked into our room that night, it was priceless. She thought it was her birthday…”

The family also posted a note on Nevaeh’s journal page at www.caringbridge.org that highlighted their stay at WestgateLakes.

The journal stated the resort “was nothing short of amazing! The room was like a fancy 3 bedroom apartment and the coolest thing was they had the whole place decorated in balloons and confetti, and princess crowns and jewelry, and they each got a present. If you could have seen the look on her face, PRICELESS!”

Navaeh enjoys SeaWorld with her family.

For more information or if you would like to donate toward Nevaeh’s health care costs, please register at www.caringbridge.org and follow her story at “NevaehBelker.”

Navaeh with dolphin at SeaWorld.

Orlando remains a magical place – and not just for vacationing families looking to live it up in the area theme parks. Orlando is also a popular destination for families with children coping with life threatening health conditions.

One such family recently traveled to Florida with their beautiful young daughter, Nevaeh, who was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor last fall. While in Florida for medical treatments, they decided to make the short drive to Orlando for a visit to SeaWorld® Orlando. At SeaWorld, they enjoyed a private meet & greet with some dolphins. As an added bonus, the family also received an unexpected, complimentary stay at Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa.

Following is an exerpt from a message Nevaeh’s mother sent following their Orlando getaway:

“Thank you for thinking about her. She is a strong and confident girl and she will fight this battle. Nevaeh had a hard last 5 months and she did not have very many days she could enjoy, so to see her last Thursday loving every minute of her day and saying how happy she was, made Mike and I so happy. Thank you so much for all you did for our family that day. I wish you could have seen her face when we walked into our room that night, it was priceless. She thought it was her birthday…”

The family also posted a note on Nevaeh’s journal page at www.caringbridge.org that highlighted their stay at WestgateLakes.

The journal stated the resort “was nothing short of amazing! The room was like a fancy 3 bedroom apartment and the coolest thing was they had the whole place decorated in balloons and confetti, and princess crowns and jewelry, and they each got a present. If you could have seen the look on her face, PRICELESS!”

Navaeh enjoys SeaWorld with her family.

For more information or if you would like to donate toward Nevaeh’s health care costs, please register at www.caringbridge.org and follow her story at “NevaehBelker.”