The View from the Bay has partnered with Starwood Hawaii to bring the spirit of Aloha to life, by honoring the importance of friendship, family and community in the Bay Area with the Celebration of Aloha promotion. View from the Bay Cares profiled ordinary people, who fellow citizens have nominated, who do extraordinary things by giving back to their community and devoting their time and energy to helping others. As the winner of the View from the Bay Cares Celebration of Aloha contest, they will receive the use of 500,000 Starwood points to use at any Starwood Resort in Hawaii.
VFTB CARES WINNER: Michelle Carranza
Our View from the Cares Celebration of Aloha winner is a young woman from San Francisco who wanted to empower the children of Africa by helping to educate them. Michelle was inspired to help the children of Africa from a trip she had previously taken to Tanzania. Through her donation of time in helping the children of Africa, Michelle noticed that a majority of children living in Africa were not getting a secondary education. International Hand Foundation's primary goal is to help children in developing countries gain the benefit of a complete education. Education and literacy are key drivers behind the solutions to many of the world's biggest issues, including poverty reduction, improved health care, and sustainable economic growth.
As CEO and Executive Director, Michelle Carranza's goals with International Hand:
- Provide scholarships to students in developing countries where basic educational needs are not provided by local government
- Fund community development projects such as libraries, schools and clinics
- Organize volunteers to participate in community development projects
- Explore the use of modern communications and the Internet to spread awareness and create dialogue
>> Learn more about The View from the Bay Cares program
Performers featured in this segment:
Kumu Kau'i Peralto, Dancer
Rose Ramos, Dancer
Musicians from Manaleo:
Keoki Cortez-Bass guitar/Vocals
Jerry Gillgren-Ukulele/Vocals
Earl Britos-Guitar/Vocals
Shawn Allen-Steel Guitar
Manaleo Website: http://www.manaleo.com
Business address:
9375 Steele Canyon Rd.
Napa, Ca. 94558
Email: jerry@northbaymedia.com
What can you do with Starwood Points?
With 11 properties under the Sheraton, Westin, Luxury Collection and St. Regis hotel brands, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Hawai'i has the best beachfront properties on O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i and the Big Island. You can redeem your SPG Starpoints for not only one, but a lot of exciting vacations in Hawai'i. You can redeem your SPG Starpoints to stay at the Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort, or the St. Regis Princeville Resort a 5-night stay every year for the next 4 years! Or at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, the Sheraton Waikiki, or the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani for anywhere from 31 to 50 nights.
About Peggy Odenbach, Regional Sales Manager, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawai'i
Peggy Odenbach is Regional Sales Manager for 11 Starwood Hotels & Resorts on the four islands of Hawai'i. She is based here in the Bay Area in Napa, California. She represents the Sheraton, Westin, Luxury Collection and St. Regis brands on O'ahu, Mau'i, Kaua'i, and the Big Island of Hawai'i. Her focus is to spread the Starwood Hawai'i Aloha to the retail travel agency community in Northern California, Pacific Northwest, Nevada, Idaho and British Columb Canada. Peggy has been with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawai'i since 1999, having spent 9 of those years prior to moving to the Napa Valley last year as the director of leisure travel sales for the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa. Living and working in Hawai'i, Peggy has embraced the Aloha Spirit and continues to invite everyone to experience this magical feeling by visiting her beautiful resorts on all the captivating islands of Hawai'i.
