TUI UK & Ireland unveiled its fundraising campaign A Million Smiles in May last year, which challenged colleagues to raise £1 million to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Family Holiday Association.
The company has revealed it has beat that target, raising £1,003,918.
The tour operator also set itself a target of helping 4,000 families with The FHA in 2016, a 40% increase on its 2014 total.
In 2016 it helped 5,184 disadvantaged families, providing short breaks in the UK to over 11,000 children who have faced hardship as a result of circumstances such as illness, bereavement or disability.
Over the past two years, colleagues around the world have taken part in a range of activities, raising money up and down the UK, as well as overseas.
Cyclists at TUI UK & I’s head office took part in Tour de TUI, cycling a circular 60 miles from its base in Luton; others competed in the company’s Great British Bake Off in its Luton and Swansea offices; and some did sky dives.
The TUI Choir released a cover version of Louis Armstrong’s ‘When You’re Smiling’ and in-house rockstars joined forces with London Luton Airport for a Battle of the Bands competition. Runners across the business took part in events such as the London Marathon and the Great North Run.
Staff in retail stores across the UK held individual fundraising events such as bake sales and static bike challenges, encouraging donations from customers and Thomson Airways crew held on-board collections.
Jeremy Ellis, marketing and customer experience director, at TUI UK & Ireland said: “We launched our ‘A Million Smiles’ campaign with the aim of helping more families than ever before and I’m delighted to say that we did just that. I’m so proud of our colleagues, beating our target and raising over £1 million over the past two years.
“In our industry, there are many families we never get to see – those who have never been to a British seaside, let alone on an overseas holiday and so it’s important to make sure we don’t forget that. That’s why our partnership with The Family Holiday Association is really important. Although our ‘A Million Smiles’ campaign has now ended, our partnership with the FHA hasn’t. Our teams are already gearing up for the next annual Tour de TUI!”
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