Moody Foundation Trustee Ross Moody, left, receiving the Texas Travel Industry’s Heritage Award from association COO Dan Decker during the group’s annual summit in Galveston on Sept. 26, 2018
AUSTIN, Texas (Oct. 15, 2018) – In honor of 75 years of supporting travel and tourism in communities across Texas, the Texas Travel Industry Association (TTIA) presented its 2018 Heritage Award to the Moody Foundation on Sept. 26 during TTIA’s 33rd Annual Texas Travel Summit in Galveston.
“TTIA is proud to honor the Moody Foundation’s longstanding generosity and support of Texas travel and tourism,” said David Teel, TTIA president and CEO. “Their investments have truly helped make travel across Texas a richer experience for millions of people.”
The Moody Foundation is the first non-corporate recipient to receive this distinguished award. The Heritage Award recognizes and honors outstanding businesses and organizations that have made a lasting, positive imprint on the Texas travel industry by demonstrating exceptional achievement, exemplary business practices, innovative corporate culture, and a commitment of excellence to visitors, guests and the community.
“This award recognizes my father, Robert Moody, Sr., and his vision for making transformative investments in Texas through the Moody Foundation in projects like Moody Gardens, which now welcomes more than 2 million visitors a year,” said Ross R. Moody, trustee of the Moody Foundation. “It is an honor to receive the award, and a privilege to support work that translates into sustained value for our state.”
To date, the Moody Foundation has contributed more than $1.5 billion in grants throughout the state to organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured and inspired generations of Texans. Notable Moody Foundation grants that have supported travel and tourism across Texas include:
- $112,996 grant to the Texas Tech Foundation, Inc. in Lubbock to assist in improving the visitor experience and expanding the educational outreach of the Moody Planetarium;
- $125,000 grant to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose to rebuild the gift shop and visitors’ facilities;
- $25,000 grant to Austin Film Society in Austin to assist in underwriting the Texas Hall of Fame event, which recognizes the contributions of Texans in all facets of film making and raises funds for the Society’s year-round education programs, film screenings and other efforts; and
- Other major capital gifts to iconic projects like Austin City Limits, Moody Coliseum, Moody Performance Hall in Dallas, Bishop’s Palace in Galveston and the official opera house of Texas, The Grand, which boosts the visibility of these multi-purpose destination facilities used by Texans for work and leisure.
TTIA’s Annual Texas Travel Summit was held at the Galveston Island Convention Center from Sept. 24-26, 2018. Approximately 400 travel industry professionals from across the state attended the 33rd annual conference.
About the Moody Foundation
The Moody Foundation was established by W.L. Moody, Jr. and Libbie Shearn Moody in 1942 to share their good fortune and make a difference in the lives of the people of Texas. Since then, the Moody Foundation has made more than $1.5 billion in grants throughout the state to organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured and inspired generations of Texans. Learn more at MoodyF.org.
About TTIA
TTIA is a non-profit organization made up of businesses, organizations, associations and individuals dedicated to making Life Better in a State of Travel. TTIA’s mission is to unify and develop industry leadership that will support and influence the growth of Texas travel and tourism. For more information about the Texas Travel Industry Association, visit ttia.org or contact the Austin office at (512) 328-8842.
Contacts:
Kami Lee representing Moody Foundation
(512) 344-2032
[email protected]
Erika Boyd, Director of Communications at Texas Travel Industry Association
(512) 328-8842
[email protected]
# # #