Children's Health Fund Honors Ovation Travel Group Chairman & CEO Paul Metselaar with Founder's Award

NEW YORK, June 12, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ovation Travel Group, one of the largest independently owned travel management companies headquartered in the U.S., today announced that its Chairman and CEO Paul Metselaar has received the Children's Health Fund's Founder's Award, the organization's highest annual honor. The award was presented last Wednesday evening at New York City's Capitale as part of the Children's Health Fund's 2019 Annual Benefit, which celebrates children's healthcare supporters and the organization's advocates.

The Children's Health Fund and Ovation became inextricably linked in 1992 after Irwin Redlener, MD ? who co-founded the Children's Health Fund in 1987 with singer/songwriter Paul Simon ? saw a news account about Metselaar's fledgling business. Redlener invited Metselaar to lunch and impressed his guest with the mission and scope of the Children's Health Fund, resulting in Metselaar's commitment to offer Ovation's support for the organization.

"When I read about Paul Metselaar's innovative new business some 25 years ago, I was intrigued," noted Dr. Redlener. "And when I reached out to him to see if he might be interested in Children's Health Fund and its mission, I discovered a compassionate humanitarian who cared about children and eventually became one of Children's Health Funds' new leaders, who will help guide and inspire us long into the future."

"I was simply blown away by the mission of the Children's Health Fund, as well as their stunning achievements in mitigating medical issues of disadvantaged children," noted Metselaar. "Irwin's captivating account compelled me to support this amazing organization. I take enormous pride in the collective Children's Health Fund efforts undertaken in the wake of natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Maria. But I'm especially proud of its 'Healthy and Ready to Learn' initiative, which works to give less privileged kids ? including those right here in New York City ? the same starting line as others. I feel extraordinarily blessed to be in a position to give back to help those less fortunate."

Through the years, Metselaar has continually increased his level of commitment to the Children's Health Fund, first serving on its advisory board and ultimately joining its board of directors. He now serves as the organization's vice chairman. As a recognized leader within the travel industry, Metselaar has regularly enlisted volunteer and financial support for the Children's Health Fund from Ovation employees, advisors and travel partners ranging from major airlines to top hoteliers.

About Ovation
Ovation Travel Group, whose flagship brand, Lawyers Travel, began operations almost 35 years ago, is one of the largest independently owned travel companies headquartered in the U.S. Ovation is a $1.3 billion travel company with travel consultants in more than 30 locations throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Ovation is the largest affiliate of BCD Travel and utilizes BCD's global network to fulfill its clients' travel programs across the globe. With over 700 employees and over 200 independent travel advisors, Ovation provides business travel services, bespoke luxury travel experiences and meeting and special events planning for over 700 professional organizations and over 200,000 travelers. For more information, please visit https://www.ovationtravel.com.

About Children's Health Fund
Children's Health Fund (CHF) envisions a future where all children in the United States get the care and support they need to thrive. Because healthcare is a critical component of that vision and inequities in access exist, CHF's mission is to ensure access to high-quality healthcare for America's most disadvantaged children. CHF also works to reduce health barriers to learning, brings the voice of children to local and national policy debates, and in times of disaster, activates care for those in need.

Since 1987, CHF has been delivering high-quality, comprehensive healthcare to children in some of the most impoverished and underserved communities in the country. From South LA to the Mississippi Delta, from the South Bronx to southern Arizona, every year Children's Health Fund's national network of 26 programs and fleet of 50 mobile medical clinics provide care to thousands of children living in poverty at more than 400 service sites, including fixed-site clinics, schools, Head Start centers, homeless and domestic violence shelters, and community agencies. For more information, please visit https://www.childrenshealthfund.org.

SOURCE Ovation Travel Group