February 29, 2008 - G Adventures, a world leader in adventure travel, recently sponsored an event in conjunction with STA Travel (USA) to assist with Habitat for Humanity’s effort to rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina. More than 30 representatives from G Adventures and STA Travel spent the day helping to build a new home in St. Bernhard Parish in New Orleans for a victim of Hurricane Katrina who has been living in a FEMA trailer since August 2005.
“St. Bernhard Parish is one of the areas in New Orleans most devastated by Hurricane Katrina,” said Bruce Poon Tip, CEO for G Adventures. “Thousands of homes in the area were either destroyed or severely damaged. While there is much more that needs to be done, we are pleased to join with STA Travel managers to assist in the effort to help rebuild the lives of people in that area. This is exactly the kind of partnership we like to encourage with our preferred partners, and it was a wonderful project which really speaks to the G Adventures philosophy.”
Designed to give participants’ understanding of how a natural disaster can impact a community, volunteers were able to share their skills during the event while listening to stories from others who were affected from the devastation. Together, they worked on assembling the frame, interior and exterior walls of the new home.
“New Orleans is a great city with a tremendous history that is still suffering years after Katrina. STA Travel has shown its support for the city by holding our annual managers meeting there for two consecutive years,” said Scott Hyden, president of STA Travel North America and event participant. “This year our Habitat for Humanity event with G Adventures gave many employees of STA Travel a phenomenal opportunity to further help the community and a specific individual who is still suffering from the devastation. On behalf of the company I can personally say that we were all warmed by the chance to help and look forward to further opportunities in the future."
Hi-resolution photos of the build can be found here.