TTAND agent lends a hand to Mali & Bolivia

Canadian travel agent Donnalea Madelay continues to give back this year, with the 14th annual fundraiser event for charity Hands Across The Nations.

Madelay, who is represented by The Travel Agent Next Door, and husband Greg founded the charity to help communities in Mali and Bolivia. This year’s Great Gourmet Give takes place on April 8 and will comprise a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner with food stations hosted by some of Toronto’s finest chefs, silent auction and dancing. The auction will, as in past years, offer items for all budgets, including crafts from Bolivia and Mali, art, electronics – even an African Safari.

In the first year the Great Gourmet Give raised $8,000; last year it was $45,000. This year the goal is $50,000.

In 2007, Madelay was named godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas in recognition of her philanthropic work, voted by 15,000 consumers who were asked to select from a group of travel agents from around the world who had been nominated for their services to philanthropy.

This year’s Great Gourmet Give will be held at the Brighton Convention Centre in Toronto. Tickets can be purchased at www.hatn.org, and early booking is recommended.