The Professional Convention Management Association didn’t just show up and have their Convening Leaders annual meeting in Orlando this week and leave town. Instead, they gave back generously to the surrounding community.

“Our members and their organizations will benefit from the outstanding facilities and the hard-working people here in Orlando,” said Deborah Sexton, president and CEO, PCMA.

She added, “These programs are one way of expressing our sincere thanks to this tremendous community. After our members leave, we hope these donations will leave a lasting impact for the families, students and teachers who need assistance in central Florida.”

Here is a list of the programs held during PCMA’s annual meeting:

Program: Party With a Purpose

Benefits: Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Network for the Needy & PCMA Education Foundation

Jan. 14 attendees celebrated for a cause as the proceeds from Party With a Purpose ticket sales helped support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, PCMA’s Network for the Needy® and the PCMA Education Foundation. In its 20th year, PWAP has raised more than $1.8 million for a range of notable causes as PCMA leads the meeting industry’s efforts to make a difference in communities around the world.

Program: Hospitality Helping Hands

Benefits: Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Inc. & Clean the World Foundation, Inc.

PCMA’s Hospitality Helping Hands program, sponsored by Experient, Marriott’s Innovention Network and Global Experience Specialists, took place Jan. 13. Meeting professionals from around the globe participated in one of these programs with 100 percent of each participant’s $75 registration fee going toward these charities.

Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Inc. provides shelter, counseling, job training and educational programs to over 750 people each day. Convening Leaders attendees will serve breakfast, work on arts and crafts projects with children and help clean playground and office facilities to keep the Coalition’s headquarters ready to welcome those in need.

Clean the World Foundation, Inc. collects, recycles and distributes discarded soaps, shampoos and other hygiene products from hospitality partners. In just three years, CTW has distributed more than 11 million bars of soap to families in more than 55 countries around the globe. Convening Leaders attendees helped advance that mission, sanitizing, recycling and packaging soap for needy families.

Program: Network for the Needy Donation Drive

Benefits: High-Need Classrooms

This year, attendees brought paper, crayons, markers and other school supplies to help underprivileged children via A Gift for Teaching. In a new addition to the Convening Leaders program, attendees can also make on-site contributions in the Corporate Social Responsibility lounge.