For Hometown News
MARTIN COUNTY --
Travel enthusiasts will be able to book vacations and help veterans during the travel for the troops "Fun"-raiser from 3-6 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Palm Room at Harbour Bay Plaza in Sewall's Point.
The charitable travel show is organized by Fun Tours Travel and is designed to build a veterans fund at House of Hope, a nonprofit agency that provides food, clothing, financial assistance and case management to residents in need.
Fun Tours Travel has lined up 20 tour operators and cruise lines who will offer travel deals to attendees and incentives that support the veteran's fund.
The travel vendors include: Avalon Waterways, Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruise Line, General Tours, Globus Vacations, Holland America Line, Hurtigruten Voyages, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Seabourn Cruises, Seadream Yacht Club, Silver Sea Cruises, Uniworld River Cruises, Viking River Cruises and Windstar Cruises.
Renato's, The Prawnbroker and Importico's Bakery Café will provide food and DJ Dennis from Devine Entertainment is supplying entertainment. There will be a silent auction featuring wine tasting, televisions, artwork, dining and pampering packages, and more.
Travel for the troops is the brainchild of Fun Tours Travel owner Kathleen Padova and travel consultant, Elaine Hirsch. The travel agents read about the plight of local veterans and wanted to do something to benefit people past and present who have served in the military. They began planning the event and forged a partnership with House of Hope.
Veterans have always been among those helped by House of Hope, but this is the first time the agency will be establishing a fund specifically dedicated to helping veterans and their families. The fund will help cover such costs as rent, utilities and medicine.
Advance tickets are $20 (or $25 at the door). Tickets are available at Fun Tours Travel, 3748 S.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart.
For more information, call (772) 287-8200 or email travelaine@hotmail.com. They also are available at House of Hope, 2484 S.E. Bonita St., Stuart or online at www.hohmartin.org/troops.