On Jan. 16, the American Bus Association (ABA) and its charitable arm, the ABA Foundation (ABAF), announced a joint donation of $25,000 to help disaster relief in Haiti as a result of the recent earthquake that has devastated the Caribbean nation. The funds will be dispersed through the American Red Cross.

“We have an opportunity to truly show our leadership as an industry and an organization of community-minded individuals,” said ABA Board member, Secretary and Treasurer Frank Henry. “We put people before profits.”

The decision to help Haiti came during the annual meeting of the ABA board of directors on the opening day of the organization’s motorcoach and group travel trade show event, the 29th annual Marketplace.

“We have an ABA Foundation arm that provides scholarships to deserving students, and relief support in Haiti is an obvious need for the country immediately,” said ABA Chairman of the Board Jim Jalbert. “We hope the travel community unites to show the humanitarian spirit of the industry as a whole.”