DENVER, May 21, 2012 - When Kevin and Nancy Leung founded Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation, a Southern California nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of children with disabilities, they wanted to harness their passion for travel into a means of fundraising support. Inspirato, the Denver-based destination club for a new generation of luxury consumers, proved a perfect partner. Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation provides grants to families who have children with disabilities and to organizations that serve these children. Thanks to Inspirato's Inspired Giving, the nonprofit has already auctioned off a luxury vacation to support its grant program and continues to attract donations with the innovative fundraising model.
Inspirato's new online Inspired Giving platform, www.inspiredgiving.com, was designed to help charitable organizations like Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation raise funds in a new way. Donors who contribute $2,000 to Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation through the Inspired Giving portal gain access to Inspirato's club-managed portfolio of vacation residences and unparalleled personal vacation services in locations ranging from California and Colorado to Hawaii and Mexico.
The Inspired Giving donation model benefits Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation in a number of ways:
-For every $2,000 donated to Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation through Inspirato's Inspired Giving website, the donor gains one-time access to an Inspirato luxury vacation - priced at up to 50 percent under market value, and without having to pay the $15,000 Inspirato membership fee.
-Inspirato contributed one Inspired Giving vacation experience that Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation auctioned to raise funds. Of those contributed monies, 100 percent went back to Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation.
-For every new Inspirato membership that is generated by an Aidan's Red Envelope donor through Inspired Giving, the company gives $2,000 to Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation as an Inspired Giving partner.
"Travel is such a big part of our lives," said Nancy Leung, founder and executive director of Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation. "Inspirato's Inspired Giving program is a great match for us and for our donors. We have so many donors and potential donors who travel and want to give back."
The Leungs were inspired by their eldest son, Aidan, who has cerebral palsy. Despite Aidan's multiple disabilities, the Leungs constantly seek programs and activities that enrich Aidan's life. They have traveled the globe with him and enabled him to participate in activities including skiing, horseback riding, ziplining and much more. They soon realized that organizations that made these experiences possible were in dire need of support. In addition, while navigating the web of government support programs, they encountered many needy families being denied assistance. Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation was born to meet those needs.
Funds raised through Inspirato's Inspired Giving program will provide grant monies for families like the Camachos, who recently received a special needs stroller through Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation for their five-year-old daughter, or for organizations such as Disabled Sports USA Far West that offers adaptive sports and recreation for children with disabilities. These first grants were made possible in part thanks to proceeds from a silent auction at the First Annual Casino Night Gala Fundraiser in February, where the organization auctioned off a weeklong Inspirato vacation among other luxury items.
For Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation donors, the donation and vacation booking experience is simple: the donor is given access to Inspirato's Inspired Giving exclusive web portal, www.inspiredgiving.com; selects Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation as the charitable organization of choice; and makes a tax-deductible donation of $2,000. That donor is then able to book a vacation to a luxury Inspirato destination and enjoy all that Inspirato members enjoy, including: personalized service from an Inspirato vacation advisor, an on-site destination concierge, and luxurious accommodations ranging from intimate, couples-only, one-bedroom retreats to large, well-appointed homes in excess of 3,000 square feet.
"Offering enriching, fulfilling experiences is at the heart of what we do at Inspirato," said Jackie Benton, executive director of Inspired Giving. "We are so happy to support Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation by providing a year-round, sustainable source of revenue that donors can feel good about and enjoy."
About Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation
Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation benefits and enriches the lives of children with disabilities. Through its grant application program, Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation provides direct help to families of children with disabilities in the Southern California area, who need funds for special equipment, therapies, summer camps or treatments; and helps organizations that run life-enriching programs and activities for children with disabilities. Learn more at www.aidansredenvelope.org or by visiting the Aidan's Red Envelope Foundation page on Facebook.
About Inspirato
Designed specifically for a new generation of luxury consumers, Inspirato offers the best of destination club consistency and service, together with unmatched value, flexibility and low-cost membership. Our members have access to an ever-growing portfolio of luxury homes in the world's top destinations, including California, the Caribbean, Colorado, France, Hawaii, Italy, London, Mexico, New York City and more. By leasing vacation properties (rather than owning), Inspirato is able to keep membership fees low, offer up to 50 percent off market rates, and easily add homes and destinations as demand increases. Our innovative business model has led to rapid growth since our January 2011 launch, placing Inspirato at the forefront of the "luxury for less" movement. For more information about Inspirato, visit www.inspirato.com. Find Inspired Giving on Facebook.