TORONTO, June 8, 2015 /CNW/ - The Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada (THiA) recently had its annual conference in San Francisco, California. The conference had a record attendance of over 200 delegates representing insurance, assistance, underwriters, reinsurers, hospitals and air ambulance companies that comprise the membership of THiA.
Tested in 2014, THiA began a social project to leave a mark in the cities in which it convenes each year. According to David Ewing, co-chair of the THiA Conference Committee, "we started out small to gauge the interest or our attendees and were overwhelmed with the support of the delegates." During the onsite registration process, delegates helped prepare hygiene kits in partnership with Clean the World Foundation (www.cleantheworld.org). The hygiene kits were then distributed to a local charity for the homeless in Nashville,Tennessee, the host city of the 2014 conference.
For 2015, THiA and its project sponsor Skyservice Air Ambulance (www.skyserviceairambulance.com) prepared over 650 hygiene kits during its onsite registration, which were then presented to Nick Van Borst of Baker Places by Alex Bittner, President of THiA and Sam Cimone, President of Skyservice Air Ambulance. Baker Places is a non-profit corporation providing an array of community-based services to residents of San Francisco affected by issues relating to mental health, substance abuse and/or HIV/AIDS.
"The kits that were provided by THiA's donation will be invaluable to our community outreach to assist our clients as they transition through our program," said Van Borst, representative of Baker Places.
THiA's post conference survey also gave high marks to the social project and plans. THiA will continue to grow the project during its annual conference in 2016 in Naples, Florida.
Founded in 1998, the Travel Health Insurance Association (THiA) is the national organization representing travel insurers, brokers, underwriters, re-insurers, emergency assistance companies, air ambulance companies and allied services in the travel insurance field. THiA is the leading voice of the travel insurance industry in Canada and is engaged in public education and issues relating to regulatory affairs and member communications.
SOURCE Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada
Image with caption: "From L to R: Alex Bittner, President, THiA; Nick Van Borst, Baker Places; Sam Cimone, President, Skyservice Air Ambulance (CNW Group/Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150608_C6933_PHOTO_EN_17650.jpg
Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, Contact: Will McAleer, T: 416.591.0023; Skyservice Air Ambulance, Contact: David Ewing, T: 800.463.3482; Baker Places, Contact: Media Relations, T: 415.864.4655
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