Travel Corner — Why Do We Have a Travel Program?

Executive Director Lisa Blair led a trip to Mackinac Island, Motor City and Niagara Falls during the summer of 2024.

​Since we’re somehow already at the end of the year (seriously… how did that happen?), I wanted to take a moment for a little housekeeping and shed light on a topic we don’t talk about nearly enough: why we even have a travel program in the first place.

Most people join our trips for the adventure, the camaraderie, the “show up and enjoy” simplicity, or the chance to see the world with a group that feels like family. But behind the scenes, our travel program does something incredibly practical for us: it helps fund our operating costs — without costing travelers a single extra dollar.

So how does that work? Think of us as your friendly neighborhood travel agent. All major travel companies — especially reputable, full-service tour operators — automatically build commissions into their pricing. That’s money they plan to pay someone for booking and facilitating travel. So instead of that commission going to a random third-party agency, it comes back to support our organization.

You don’t pay anything extra. Your trip doesn’t cost more. But we get a share that helps us run everything we do throughout the year.

It’s a win–win: you get an expertly organized, nearly hands-off travel experience, and we get support to keep our programs thriving.

Why we partner with specific companies. We don’t work with just anyone. We’ve chosen two highly reputable partners — Premier World Discovery and Collette Travel — because they consistently deliver quality, safety, value, and exceptional experiences.

Premier World Discovery is known for its well-crafted itineraries, smooth logistics, and experienced tour directors who make each destination come alive.

Collette Travel, one of the oldest guided travel companies in the U.S., offers a worldwide catalog of trips, thoughtful inclusions, and top-tier customer service.

When you travel with them through us, you get all their expertise plus our personal oversight: organizing the group, keeping communication flowing, helping coordinate the details, and ensuring you always feel supported from the moment you sign up to the moment you come home.

What this means for you. Our goal is simple: Make travel easy, meaningful, and memorable — while supporting the work we do year-round.

By joining our trips, you’re not only seeing the world — you’re helping strengthen our programs, services, and community efforts. And you’re doing it without spending a penny more than you would if you booked the exact same trip on your own.

As we look toward a new year (somehow!), we’re excited to continue offering experiences that enrich your life and our mission. Thank you for being part of this journey with us — literally and figuratively.