A la Heart GVL, a program providing emergency assistance to hospitality workers, will launch June 1.
It was announced May 6 during an event at New Realm Brewing Co. in downtown Greenville, coinciding with National Travel and Tourism Week.
The program will help workers experiencing illness, disaster, injury or loss, and can also pay for the funeral of a deceased hospitality professional. It was inspired by Spartanburg County emergency assistance fund Hubitality.
A la Heart GVL was set up by the Greenville chapter of the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, in collaboration with VisitGreenvilleSC. The program was a recipient of a grant from Local Boys Do Good, euphoria Greenville’s philanthropic arm.
“We want to use this to shine a light on the people who make a difference every single day,” said Heath Dillard, president and CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC. “To the people in our community who might be living on the margins, who might have a medical emergency or an unexpected death in the family, or simply have car trouble and want to find a way to get back to work to serve our visitors.”
Dillard noted that 56,000 people work in the hospitality business in Greenville County, and that visitors to the area had a $2.5 billion economic impact in 2024. He said the fund has already raised $100,000 in its first year and $250,000 committed for the next three years. Applications for assistance go live June 1. Donations can be made at alaheartgvl.org.
