Through Hyatt Thrive, we're proud to highlight the efforts of our passionate associates to help build thriving communities around them. It's especially meaningful when one property's work can grow into something larger, spreading its impact to multiple communities.

Hyatt's work with Hands On Education, a non-profit organization providing vocational training and job placement for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, started with one hotel in 1998. Young adults with challenges keeping them from traditional training programs became paid Hyatt employees for a two-week program, preparing them for hospitality jobs such as culinary arts, housekeeping, laundry, engineering and maintenance, shipping and receiving, banquet setup, and convention services.

It's since grown into a 14-year and counting collaboration at 22 Hyatt properties. More than 1,300 students have been trained at Hyatt hotels in Florida, Texas, Denver, and the DC area. Many have become permanent members of our Hyatt family.

In addition to our training program, Hands On Education received additional funds through our Hyatt Community Grants program last year to help expand their program in Tampa and begin efforts in Denver. As a result, the first ever Hands On Education class just graduated in Denver. Check out this video from KUSA-TV in Denver about their success.

When we partnered up with our friends at milepoint this year to select a charity that'd benefit from the generosity of Hyatt Gold Passport members at the OneWorld MegaDo, we knew the perfect fit. This week, our Hyatt leaders were thrilled to present Hands On Education Executive Director John Ficca with more than $18,000 through their donations. Thank you, MegaDO attendees, for your support!