Travel experiences specialist Hudson, a Dufry company, is celebrating 15 years of its philanthropic partnership with US-based student support organisation Communities In Schools (CIS).
Since 2008, Hudson has raised more than US$5 million on behalf of CIS through point-of-sale donations at airport and transportation hub retail locations.
With this support, CIS has grown from serving 1.3 million students in 2008 to 1.8 million today. Additionally, 120,000 high school seniors have graduated with CIS since the partnership began.
Hudson’s contributions are distributed between national and local levels, supporting 28 affiliates in communities where the North American travel retailer operates. Funds allocated toward the CIS National Office support the growth and stability of the enterprise, while local funding raised in retail stores helps further programming and the work of student support coordinators in local schools within that state.
“We thank Hudson and its team members nationwide for investing in the mission of Communities In Schools over the past 15 years,” said Communities In Schools President and CEO Rey Saldaña.
“The philanthropic partnership of Hudson and their customers has helped increase the impact of CIS, reaching an additional 500,000 students and providing them critical resources and relationships with caring adults, ensuring that all kids have what they need to succeed in school and in life.”
Watch this video to understand how Communities In Schools is building a movement to ensure equity in education for all students
Hudson Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Hope Remoundos said, “It’s incredible to see how our partnership with CIS has grown and evolved over the years. This fundraising milestone is a testament to the generosity of our travellers and the commitment of our team members to bring awareness to the important work that CIS does.
“Together, we’re helping create equitable access to education, empowering the next generation of students.”
The partnership between CIS and Hudson exemplifies the collective impact of leadership, store managers and customers, especially as Hudson continues to prioritise giving back to the communities it serves as part of Dufry’s Destination 2027 strategy.
The vision for CIS includes ensuring every Title I eligible public school incorporates integrated student supports (ISS) to meet the complex needs (basic, social, emotional, physical, mental health, family, academic) of students – especially those of colour and students living in poverty.
With multi-year investments from partners such as Hudson, CIS is set to scale its proven model to an additional 2,000 new schools by 2032 for a total of 6,000. ✈
