Marriott Brings Comfort and Hope to Children's National Families and Faculty

In our Corporate Partner Spotlight, we interview corporate leaders about what inspires them to serve as advocates and ambassadors for children's health. This month, we spoke with Apoorva Gandhi, senior vice president of community engagement and business councils at Marriott International.

Marriott hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada support Children's National Hospital and Children's Miracle Network through philanthropy, in-kind donations and volunteering. In the Washington, D.C., area, local hotels raised more than $30,000 last year through a charity golf tournament, and more than 500 associates mobilized the largest team for the Race for Every Child 5K Run/Walk to advance world-class care. Marriott headquarters also hosts annual fundraisers and blood drives for our patients.

What makes Marriott's partnership with Children's National meaningful for Marriott employees and guests?

Since the beginning, Marriott has taken care of the communities where we do business. This is particularly important in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region, home of our company’s founding and global headquarters.

Our guests also value knowing what we believe in and stand for as we continue to focus on serving our communities through meaningful sustainability and social impact initiatives. One area that really brings associates and guests together is the well-being of children. Thanks to their passion, we have raised more than $166 million over 40 years with Children's Miracle Network.

How did Marriott's volunteer day this past December inspire your team while giving back?

December can feel like a sprint – meeting deadlines, reporting on annual results and planning for the year ahead. It was energizing to put the work aside and spend time with colleagues and make a difference.

It was also inspiring to see the remarkable work of Children's National up close. We feel pride in the partnership between Marriott and Children's National, and being in the hospital reminded us of the importance of the hospital's mission and our impact.

What is the most rewarding part of working with Children's National?

Our team knows that our company's contributions – whether financial, in-kind or volunteer time – will be put to the best possible use for a vital purpose: helping children.

We trust that when we offer resources, Children's National will put them into action with intention and expertise. When we volunteered for just a few hours, the team guided us to sort 750 toys and 350 books, clean 90 mattresses and assemble 320 care kits for overnight staff.

What is the greatest lesson you have learned partnering with the hospital?

There is no one-size-fits-all way to make an impact. When the cause is as worthy as Children's National and Children's Miracle Network, it will spur ideas. How Marriott helps may look different in every community, and the team encourages that local creativity.

How would you advise other leaders to make a meaningful impact in their community?

Think about how your organization can uniquely use your resources to make a difference. That could include people power, a financial donation or a gift of in kind goods and services.

And set big goals. This year, we set goals to contribute 15 million volunteer hours and to impact the lives of 5 million children by 2030. Children's Miracle Networks and Children's National will be huge drivers of progress toward those goals.

Thanks to the Marriott associates and guests who joined us to support over the years, every hour volunteered and dollar donated have made a difference in children's lives, strengthened our culture and made Marriott and our communities a better place.