NEW YORK, June 12, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ovation
Travel Group, one of the largest independently owned travel
management companies headquartered in the U.S., today announced
that its Chairman and CEO Paul
Metselaar has received the Children's Health Fund's
Founder's Award, the organization's highest annual honor. The award
was presented last Wednesday evening at New York City's Capitale as part of the
Children's Health Fund's 2019 Annual Benefit, which celebrates
children's healthcare supporters and the organization's
advocates.
The Children's Health Fund and Ovation became inextricably
linked in 1992 after Irwin Redlener,
MD – who co-founded the Children's Health Fund in 1987 with
singer/songwriter Paul Simon – saw a
news account about Metselaar's fledgling business. Redlener invited
Metselaar to lunch and impressed his guest with the mission and
scope of the Children's Health Fund, resulting in Metselaar's
commitment to offer Ovation's support for the organization.
"When I read about Paul
Metselaar's innovative new business some 25 years ago, I was
intrigued," noted Dr. Redlener. "And when I reached out to him to
see if he might be interested in Children's Health Fund and its
mission, I discovered a compassionate humanitarian who cared about
children and eventually became one of Children's Health Funds' new
leaders, who will help guide and inspire us long into the
future."
"I was simply blown away by the mission of the Children's Health
Fund, as well as their stunning achievements in mitigating medical
issues of disadvantaged children," noted Metselaar. "Irwin's
captivating account compelled me to support this amazing
organization. I take enormous pride in the collective Children's
Health Fund efforts undertaken in the wake of natural disasters
like Hurricanes Katrina and Maria. But I'm especially proud of its
'Healthy and Ready to Learn' initiative, which works to give less
privileged kids – including those right here in New York City – the same starting line as
others. I feel extraordinarily blessed to be in a position to give
back to help those less fortunate."
Through the years, Metselaar has continually increased his level
of commitment to the Children's Health Fund, first serving on its
advisory board and ultimately joining its board of directors. He
now serves as the organization's vice chairman. As a recognized
leader within the travel industry, Metselaar has regularly enlisted
volunteer and financial support for the Children's Health Fund from
Ovation employees, advisors and travel partners ranging from major
airlines to top hoteliers.
About Ovation
Ovation Travel Group, whose flagship brand, Lawyers Travel, began
operations almost 35 years ago, is one of the largest independently
owned travel companies headquartered in the U.S. Ovation is a
$1.3 billion travel company with
travel consultants in more than 30 locations throughout
the United States and the
United Kingdom. Ovation is the
largest affiliate of BCD Travel and utilizes BCD's global network
to fulfill its clients' travel programs across the globe. With over
700 employees and over 200 independent travel advisors, Ovation
provides business travel services, bespoke luxury travel
experiences and meeting and special events planning for over 700
professional organizations and over 200,000 travelers. For more
information, please visit https://www.ovationtravel.com.
About Children's Health Fund
Children's Health Fund (CHF) envisions a future where all children
in the United States get the care
and support they need to thrive. Because healthcare is a critical
component of that vision and inequities in access exist, CHF's
mission is to ensure access to high-quality healthcare for
America's most disadvantaged children. CHF also works to reduce
health barriers to learning, brings the voice of children to local
and national policy debates, and in times of disaster, activates
care for those in need.
Since 1987, CHF has been delivering high-quality, comprehensive
healthcare to children in some of the most impoverished and
underserved communities in the country. From South LA to the
Mississippi Delta, from the South
Bronx to southern Arizona,
every year Children's Health Fund's national network of 26 programs
and fleet of 50 mobile medical clinics provide care to thousands of
children living in poverty at more than 400 service sites,
including fixed-site clinics, schools, Head Start centers, homeless
and domestic violence shelters, and community agencies. For more
information, please visit https://www.childrenshealthfund.org.
SOURCE Ovation Travel Group