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PVM GTR website initiative raises US$5,100 for The Smile Train children's charity

Last week, Perfetti Van Melle Global Travel Retail attended the annual Duty Free Show in Fort Lauderdale. It was the first time they presented themselves here with a stand of their own. And, without a doubt, the show can be considered a success! A success not only achieved thanks to the many new contacts and business results. Because on Tuesday, March 24th, Perfetti Van Melle’s Director of Travel Retail, Mark Laros was able to present a cheque for $5,100.00 to Martin Moodie (Founder and Publisher of the Moodie Report) for the Smile Train Charity in his capacity as a member of the charity’s Board.


This fund-raising initiative all started on Valentine’s day when Perfetti Van Melle Global Travel Retail launched their new website (www.pvm-gtr.com). It was then that they surprised their business partners with a letter announcing the launch and asking them to log on to the exclusive business partners platform with their personal code. For each new visit to the website, Perfetti Van Melle Global Travel Retail vowed to donate €100.00 to the Smile Train Charity. The response was overwhelming leading to a total amount of $5.100,00 - a magnificent result.


Mark Laros explains: “We first heard about the Smile Train Charity at the MEDFA show in Abu Dhabi in 2008. The idea to support this charity in particular is no co-incidence. Many of our products are all about children and are enjoyed by children across the world, Chupa Chups and Mentos alike. The Smile Train Charity provides free cleft and palate surgeries for poor children in developing countries. Clefts are a major problem, which cause eating problems and speech impediments causing many children to suffer setbacks for life. And seeing a child smile brings happiness! That’s is exactly what we pursue and what this wonderful charity is all about.”


Mark Laros went on to thank all of the customers that had contributed to this worthy cause and said he felt proud that they could make this contribution thanks to each and everyone’s willingness and involvement.