Announcing the Virgin Unite Staff Connection Trip winners
- By Hannah Mahony -
- Aug 17, 2012
Every year Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, holds a competition to find a team of made of Virgin staff to take part in the Staff Connection Trip.
The trip gives Virgin staff from across the Group to experience first-hand the work of Virgin Unite and its partners in South Africa.
The trip consists of four days volunteering at Pride ‘n Purpose, the charitable arm of Ulusaba, where the team get involved in a number of hands-on community projects.
The group will also visit the Bhubezi Clinic, a Healthcare Centre that provides HIV/AIDS and primary healthcare treatment to thousands of patients.
The final day is spent in Johannesburg meeting aspiring entrepreneurs at the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship and learning about how they are growing their businesses and creating jobs in the community.
So without further-ado ,a huge congratulations to this year’s winners:
Sara Volker – Virgin Active, South Africa
Shelly Gerrish – Virgin America
Luke Evans – Virgin Australia
Suneet Sehmi – Virgin Holidays/Cruises
Ted Brumleve – Virgin Hotels
Angie Allgood – Virgin Management Ltd UK
Steve Pullen – Virgin Media
Chris Thompson – Virgin Mobile Canada
Richard Haydon – Virgin Money
The Staff Connection Trip team are set to fundraise up a storm by raising £15,000 to build a local community centre, from implementing an internet café, to working with Food and Trees for Africa to create a food garden, to building a play centre.
Shelly Gerrish from Virgin America said: “South Africa has such a special place in my soul, so I am beyond grateful for being a part of this trip with Virgin Unite! Making heart felt connections is what we are meant for, and I know this trip will be a life changing experience that brings lasting impressions, friendships, and growth.”
Chris Thompson from Virgin Mobile Canada told us what he’ll be bringing to the trip: “I’ll be bringing my positive outlook, an open mind and a big bag of hard work – oh, also I might pack a few lame jokes as well, just in case.”
To make a donation to the Staff Connection Trip click here.
By Hannah Mahony. Social engagement executive, Virgin Group Digital. Tweets @hannahmahony
