Philanthropy

The holiday season is a traditional time of giving. It is the time of year when many people count their blessings and consider how they can help others who may be less fortunate. My preference is to systematically integrate philanthropy into everyday life. This is especially true in our businesses, where the mantra is “doing well by doing good.”

At Muy’Ono, our resort management business in Belize, we believe that the communities in which we operate are an important part of our success. They are home to our employees, their families, suppliers, and occasionally our guests. As part of our “Commitment to Community” program, the firm donates a fixed dollar amount for every room night we sell at each resort, and we ask our guests to match the company’s donation. The dollar value varies by resort but represents a meaningful amount of money each month.

Every year, each resort's employees select twelve local charities that will receive support from this program. Those same employees then go every month to distribute checks to the organizations. Over the past six years, we have distributed over $1 million Belize dollars ($500,000 USD) to local organizations. The impact of this program is immense and measurable. For us, it is just good business. We benefit from higher rates of employee retention and satisfaction, word-of-mouth advertising, strong support from suppliers, and a positive relationship with our industry partners.

We also offer vacation packages to organizations in the United States that they can sell to raise money through our “Travel Better for Charity” initiative. This year, that program helped 258 charities in the U.S. raise well over $1 million US dollars. The total over the years likely exceeds $5 million. The results are not as visible to us, but we know that the money has an impact, and we benefit from the exposure the resorts receive when these packages are auctioned off. Doing well by doing good.

Meanwhile, the Muy’Ono “Pack for a Purpose” program encourages guests to bring school and medical supplies with them on vacation. We then distribute these donations to local schools and clinics, allowing our guests to join us in supporting the local community.

Yes, these programs are charitable, but the benefits flow in both directions. The support we provide through these initiatives enhances and enriches our business. It is not an expense. It is a good investment with incredible returns. Give that some thought and consider how you can do well by systematically integrating philanthropy into your life.