The United Way of Greater Texarkana's FUNdraiser Trips are back on for 2021 after a one-year hiatus because of worldwide COVID-19 protocols.
UWGT will have a trip presentation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Texarkana Texas Convention Center. Ian Scott with Aventura World will be leading the information-filled presentation.
"This has been a fun way to see the world, experience a trip of a lifetime with local friends as a group and also benefit the United Way too," President Mark Bledsoe said.
This excursion will start in Amsterdam, Netherland, travel up the Rhine River stopping at ports of call along the way and finish up in Lucerne, Switzerland. There will also be an optional extension to Zurich.
"Traveling along one of Europe's most captivating waterways, we'll wind through The Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland," Bledsoe said.
This fundraiser will benefit the United Way's campaign fund, which provides support to more than 30 programs in nine counties in Southwest Arkansas and Northeast Texas.
The trips have become a mainstay in the fundraising.
"I've been lucky enough to be a part of these incredible trips since 2011, when we took our first trip to China. Since then we've traveled to Italy, Ireland, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Danube River Cruise, Russia and Egypt/Nile River. We've had as many as 100 passengers go on several trips but the average has been between 35-40."
Now that things are starting to open back up, UWGT is looking to get on the books ahead of the crowds.
"We're thankful to live in a community that cares," Bledsoe said.