THE RIGHT DIRECTION
FAMILY BONDS FOUNDATION
This organization supports travel advisors and suppliers who are experiencing hardships .
WORDS / CODIE LIERMANN
COURTESY OF FAMILY BONDS FOUNDATION
Jackie Friedman on stage ( right ) presenting with recipient Laurie Zeller ( Travel Leaders of Apple Valley ) at EDGE in 2023 .
We ’ ve most likely all witnessed someone close to us go through a hardship in life . It ’ s almost always something unforeseen and oftentimes carries a financial burden along with it . These struggles come in all shapes and sizes , and one travel company wanted to find a way to help offer relief .
In 2016 , Travel Leaders Group President John Lovell created the Family Bonds
Foundation , an organization that offers financial assistance to members of the travel industry who are in need .
“ His goal at the time was to put together an organization that really allowed us to help our own , our industry family , whether it be advisors , whether it be suppliers , whether it be members of their family , folks that are in need ,” said Jackie Friedman , who is the president of Nexion Travel Group and the current president of the Family Bonds
Foundation .
Being in need looks different to everyone . It includes everything from people facing health challenges and natural disaster victims to single parents paying for college tuition and adults caring for elderly parents .
Grants are given out four times a year , and since its inception , the organization has provided 200 grants totaling more than $ 370,000 . Family Bonds Foundation is led by a board of directors which is made up of
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