USA #HospitalityStrong Relief Fund

Anthony Melchiorri in association with Skål USA/ Skål New York/ Skål Long Island has created the USA #HospitalityStrong online fundraiser campaign which seeks to promote a thriving hospitality industry with the goal of supporting the affected hospitality workforce through this unprecedented crisis. It is important to note that the hospitality industry is the #1 employer in the USA second only to government-held positions.  We are asking you for your support considering the profound impact that COVID-19 has had on a domestic hospitality industry that traditionally employs over 15 million workers nationwide.


"Now is the time to take care of those who have taken care of us when travel.  Small business owners operate most hotels, and it is a priority to help their employees until they reopen." - Anthony Melchiorri 


"Skål International is a professional organization of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. " Learn more about SKAL International USA's story HERE . 


SKAL International Mission Statement:
Across all sectors of tourism, provide maximum networking opportunities, career development, and business growth through leadership, trust, and friendship while supporting a responsible travel industry.


Many hard-working and passionate hospitality professionals were amongst the first to be adversely impacted by the Coronavirus crisis.  They need our help to provide for themselves and their families, for we want them to return to their positions when doors fully reopen. 

This is why we have come together to ask for help.  We will provide all funds by this GoFundMe campaign to be distributed to hospitality workers that have served our communities and have been essential to the foundation of the United States, whether working in hotels, restaurants, catering facilities, or other hospitality-related organizations that are a bedrock of the USA economy. 


Please donate whatever you can.  No amount is too small. 100% of funds raised will be directed to hospitality workers throughout the USA impacted by COVID-19.

 
* For those that are reading this and feel that they qualify for funds raised by USA  #HospitalityStrong COVID-19 Relief Fund for this fundraising drive, please click HERE  to submit your request for consideration.


Funds will be distributed to applicants that meet the following criteria (at time of application):

1- Applicants have worked in a USA based hospitality organization for at least the previous 12 consecutive months leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 1, 2019 thru February 29, 2020 or later);

2- Applicants earned $45,000 or less annually (salary, hourly wage and/or gratuities combined);

3- Applicants worked 30 hours per week or more (for at least 40 of the last 52 weeks worked);

4- Applicants provide proof of furlough or termination (on or after March 1, 2020);

5- Applicants are currently either furloughed or unemployed.

If the applicant does not have formal documentation of proof for any of the above criteria, the applicant may instead provide a contact at the company they worked for so that eligibility may be verified

Note: 

√ Funds to be distributed to those meeting criteria in dollar increments to be determined by USA #HospitalityStrong COVID-19 Relief Fund based on total monies raised, and will be distributed on a ‘first-come, first-served basis’.

√  Skal USA/ Skal NY/ Skal Long Island are non-profit 501(c)(6) business associations.  Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions on the donor's federal income tax return. They may be deductible as trade or business expenses if ordinary and necessary in the conduct of the taxpayer's business. 

Please apply HERE today to submit your request for consideration of funding.