Cedar Rapids Welcomes New DreamCourt for Area Kids

Dreams deferred are not dreams denied as proven yesterday, when three years of fundraising came to fruition with the grand opening of DreamCourt™ at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids – Polk Alternative Education Center. 

DreamCourts are top-quality, multipurpose play spaces built in lower-income communities to promote fitness and fun, thanks to a collaboration among WorldVentures Foundation™, Nancy Lieberman Charities and Sport Court^®. Local dignitaries, event sponsors and community members gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, held from 4 to 6 p.m.

“As the second-largest city in Iowa, Cedar Rapids has the distinction of being one of the nation’s best places to live. But we know big cities often house big challenges for children. We’re humbled to help provide a safe place for area children to play and grow socially so they can compete on every level,” said Gwyneth Lloyd, executive director of WorldVentures Foundation.

WorldVentures Foundation is a dedicated, national partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and leads Volunteer Days at clubs throughout North America. Eddie Head, president of WorldVentures, cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Cedar Rapids opening, unveiling a two-hoop, 35-by-65-foot DreamCourt with Sport Court’s SportGame high-performance safety surface and bright blue and orange accents. Of 21 DreamCourts built to date, 13 are located at Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide.

“We are honored and thrilled to be a recipient of a new basketball court through the Nancy Lieberman Foundation and World Ventures Foundation,” said John Tursi, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids. “Our kids will be able to use this beautiful, new court for many years.”

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy Lieberman, founder and chairwoman of Nancy Lieberman Charities, was unable to attend due to her obligations as assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings, but she shared her sentiments with the audience through a letter read by Lloyd.

“I am living the dream that every one of the kids who will play on this court will have one day. I'm proud to be in Sacramento making history as only the second woman to coach in the NBA. But history doesn't mean anything unless we open the doors for others to fulfill a dream.” 

DreamTrips Vacation Club is “Asia’s Leading Travel Club” … Again

For the second consecutive year, DreamTrips™ Vacation Club has been named “Asia’s Leading Travel Club,” claiming three of nine regional honors bestowed by World Travel Awards (WTA) so far in 2015. The announcement came yesterday during WTA’s Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony at InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong. Model and media personality, Vanessa Yeung, emceed the event, which drew hundreds of industry luminaries, government officials and global media.

“On the heels of WorldVentures™ having opened our Asian Corporate Headquarters in Singapore, this honor is especially affirming,” said WorldVentures Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Wayne Nugent. “Asia is driving growth in the travel industry and we’re honored to offer customers quality travel experiences in this vibrant, culturally rich region of our world.”

World Travel Awards is the travel industry's most prestigious awards programme, rewarding leaders in all sectors of the global tourism industry. Last year, DreamTrips won four regional awards in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony is the sixth stop on the annual Grand Tour, which began in Dubai earlier this year and concludes in December with the Grand Finals in Morocco.

Leah Remini and Life is Good Headline DreamCourt Opening in Long Beach

Life is Good is more than a brand, it’s a movement fueled by optimism. Today, the California children served by the Boys & Girls Club of Long Beach celebrated optimism with the grand opening of a new DreamCourt™ at the Freeman E. Fairfield/Westside Center. DreamCourts are state-of-the-art basketball facilities built in lower-income communities through a collaboration among WorldVentures Foundation™, Nancy Lieberman Charities and Sport Court^®. Optimistic lifestyle brand Life is Good, who donated over $50,000 to build the court, along with actress Leah Remini headlined the grand opening event.


“I’m honored and humbled that Leah Remini and Life is Good are rallying behind this effort,” said Nancy Lieberman, Basketball Hall-of-Famer, NBA coach and founder of the Nancy Lieberman Charities. “Together we can bring a renewed sense of vitality and community to children and families in the area.”
The building of this court was motivated by the story of a 15-year-old boy who was slain in the area last March. Leah Remini’s sister, Nicole Remini, who initiated the project said: “After such a tragedy, we hope this DreamCourt will unite the community and provide a safe place for children to play, away from gangs and violence.”

When Life is Good heard about the need for a safe place to play in Long Beach, they stepped up to support the building of the DreamCourt. The $100 million lifestyle brand is currently on a nationwide tour to spread optimism and help #GROWtheGood by connecting with communities and raising over $1 million to help kids in need. The DreamCourt opening is one of the main events during the tour.

“Optimism doesn’t ignore what’s wrong – it helps you focus on what’s right,” said John Jacobs, Co-Founder, Life is Good. “We’ve learned through the years that life isn’t easy and life isn’t perfect, but life is good. We are committed to giving back and helping to make life good for all kids.”

Dan Stammen, the board chair of WorldVentures Foundation, shared his perspectives: “When you consider that 83% of children who come to this facility live below the poverty line and 60% come from single-parent households, a message of optimism is like oxygen. I’m a Boys & Girls Club alumni, and I know together, we can breathe new life into communities like these all over North America.”

"Sport Court is extremely pleased to support the WorldVentures Foundation and Nancy Lieberman Charities on this important DreamCourt project that will provide a high-quality Power Game™ surface for safe play at the Boys & Girls Club in Long Beach,” said Joe Ure, Sport Court Director of Residential Sales.

WorldVentures Foundation is a dedicated, national affiliate of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and leads service excursions to clubs nationwide. Of 19 DreamCourts built to date, 11 are located at Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide. Earlier this year, the Remini sisters and Viva Glam magazine hosted a celebrity silent auction at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills to help raise money for construction of the Freeman E. Fairfield/Westside DreamCourt, which features two full-sized, multi-sport courts constructed with Sport Court’s Power Game high-performance safety surface, bright blue and orange accents, a wall mural and bleachers. 

DreamTrips Vacation Club Named “Europe’s Leading Travel Club”

DreamTrips™ Vacation Club, a global leader in travel and vacation club memberships, was named “Europe’s Leading Travel Club” for the second consecutive year at the 2015 World Travel Awards (WTA). Hundreds of hospitality leaders gathered for the black-tie awards gala, which was held Saturday, September 5 at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, Italy.

“It is an honor to be recognized by our peers and customers for exceptional service and product offerings in Europe,” WorldVentures Marketing, LLC Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Wayne Nugent said. “Our DreamTrips team is deeply committed to delivering outstanding customer service, and they consistently exceed expectations. Thank you to the awards committee for recognizing their hard work.”

Since 1993, WTA has celebrated excellence across all sectors of the global tourism industry. Last year, DreamTrips won four regional awards in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. The Europe Gala Ceremony is the third stop on the annual Grand Tour, which began in Dubai earlier this year, includes visits to the Bahamas, Bogotá and Singapore and concludes this December with the Grand Finals in Morocco.

WorldVentures Foundation Plants Seeds of Hope in Zimbabwe

As the world mourned Cecil the Lion and debated the humanity of hunting big game in Zimbabwe, a baby found abandoned in a pit latrine was being loved back to life nearby. How she got there, no one knows, but her plight fuelled purpose for those who joined WorldVentures Foundation™ (WVF) in August for Volunteer Days at the Rose of Charity Orphanage and its Community Center in Victoria Falls.

“My heart breaks when I think of that sweet baby, left to drown in human waste,” said WVF Executive Director Gwyneth Lloyd, as she fought back tears. “The inhumanity is unspeakable but, as horrible as it is, stories like hers are all-too common. It’s why we are called to serve.”

Lloyd and her team led two groups of WorldVentures Representatives and Members to Zimbabwe August 9-16 and August 13-16 to clean, paint, furnish and construct a sustainable food garden at the Victoria Falls orphanage. The beautiful humanitarian Simangele Moyo founded the home in 2007 as a haven for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Today, services have expanded to include personal empowerment workshops, education assistance, therapeutic counselling and more. WorldVentures Foundation raises funds and provides volunteer support for outreach organizations like Rose of Charity to fulfil its mission to positively impact children worldwide.

Lloyd said education and clear paths to self-sufficiency will help end the cycle of teen pregnancy and baby abandonment that leads to institutionalization in Zimbabwe. To that end, WVF volunteers are helping to collaborate on funding a school dropout prevention program at the orphanage that includes vocational training for careers in tourism and hospitality. Lloyd also invited the management at nearby Elephant Hills Hotel about partnering with the home on training and job placement.

“Without the selfless contributions of our volunteers, none of this would be possible,” Lloyd shared. “They’ve built more than a garden here; they’ve planted seeds of hope.”
WorldVentures Rep Misty Anderson of Chattanooga, Tenn., was among the volunteers who came to lend support. With a heart for giving that stems from her own disadvantaged youth, she expressed her passion for the Volunteer Days program. 

“I’m passionate because I was kinda raised like this,” she said tearfully, while watching the orphans play. “I want to give because I didn’t really have anybody to give back for me. Being able to overcome some of the things I’ve come from, I want to help others overcome. I would advise anybody to do this because of what you get out of it.”    

WorldVentures Once Again Recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest-growing Private Company

The Company’s Three-year Sales Growth Jumped 491%

 WorldVentures™, the leading international direct seller of vacation club memberships, ranked No. 915 in Inc. magazine’s 34th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of America’s fastest-growing private companies. WorldVentures received its ranking based on growth of 491% in the past three years.

The list represents one of the most important segments of the economy—America’s independent entrepreneurs. Companies such as Yelp, Pandora, Timberland, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, LinkedIn, Zillow, and many other prominent businesses, gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 5000.

“We’re honored to be named to the fastest-growing companies list once again,” WorldVentures Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer Wayne Nugent said. “We’ve catapulted from 2333 last year to number 915 this year and rank ninth for the top travel and hospitality companies. What a great achievement for our corporate team and Independent Representatives around the world who have worked so hard to deliver these results.”  

The 2015 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved an impressive three-year growth of 490%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $205 billion, generating 647,000 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000 can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.          

"The story of this year’s Inc. 5000 is the story of great leadership,” Inc. President and Editor-in-Chief Eric Schurenberg said. “In an incredibly competitive business landscape, it takes something extraordinary to take your company to the top. You have to remember that the average company on the Inc. 5000 grew nearly six-fold since 2012. Business owners don’t achieve that kind of success by accident."
This recognition comes at a time of tremendous growth for WorldVentures. In addition to the being named one of America’s fastest-growing private companies in the Inc. 5000 list, WorldVentures was recognized at No. 47 on the Direct Selling News’ DSN Global 100 list and No. 25 on the DSN North America 50 list. And recently, its core product, DreamTrips™ Memberships, eclipsed competitors for the coveted title of “Africa’s Leading Travel Club” during the World Travel Awards.