After hearing about the devastating tornado that ripped through Nashville, we reached out to our friend and HCI family member Staci Flores of the Nashville CVC to see how we could help.
We want to share her response with you to assure you that she is safe, and to let you know what you can do to help if you would like to do so.
Thank you so much for reaching out and your concerns regarding the tornado in Nashville.
As for spreading the word in regards to the impact on Nashville and how it may affect future groups that are planned to head our way, feel free to share the message release by our President and CEO of the Nashville CVC, Butch Spyridon, listed below:
March 4, 2020
Updated Statement from Butch Spyridon, President and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp:
“We are grateful for the outpouring of support and concern since the devastating tornado. While our focus remains on helping victims and Nashville recover, we have been asked questions about the impact on tourism, conventions and meetings, especially by groups arriving in the coming weeks.
Downtown Nashville and the city’s entertainment district were untouched. With minor exceptions, the city’s hotels, restaurants, meeting spaces, attractions and venues are open. Shows went on Tuesday night at the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Lower Broadway honky tanks and other live music venues. Current conventions are ongoing at Music City Center. There was never a disruption at Nashville International Airport. All major attractions are open, except for the Tennessee State Museum due to road closures in the impacted area. SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament has announced it will go on as planned starting March 11. We are grateful that even with all the devastation, the music keeps playing in Music City. At times like these, we not only have to help our neighbors recover but also keep them working and the industry generating tax revenue for the city and state.
We are overwhelmed by the support and donations to aid in recovery taking place in the impacted neighborhoods of East Nashville, Germantown and Donelson. We are continuing to raise funds through Music City Inc., and those funds will be immediately distributed directly to families significantly impacted, with a priority on those employed in the hospitality industry.”
In regards to ways that our HCI family of members can help, should they wish to, please see below:
How you can help:
The Music City Inc. 501c(3) charitable foundation of the NCVC will be donating
100% of the proceeds directly to people/families affected by the devastation of the tornado. The impacted recipients are people whose homes were damaged/destroyed or those who are now unemployed due to their employers business being damaged/destroyed. Our staff was just informed this morning that the fund has already received over $100,000 in donations. We will be heading out into teams on Friday and distributing the first round of monetary funds to those in need. We will continue disbursing monetary funds as long as they continue to come in.
Lastly, our team has made the below logo into something similar for a T-shirt which will go on sale for pre-order in the next day or so. Those proceeds from these T-shirt sales will funnel directly into the Music City Inc. foundation stated above. So if anyone wants to wear their support, they can as well! 😊
Regards,
Staci
