No event industry rally is complete without the MPI Foundation! Annually, MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) manifests as a critical window for fundraising and storytelling for the MPI Foundation. Leveraging a successful yearlong effort in 2024 while celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the MPI Foundation is flipping the spotlight to focus on every scholarship recipient!

“Celebrating our scholarship recipients’ story and where they can impact our industry is paramount,” says Rebecca DeLuca, vice president destination sales with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and 2025 chair of the MPIF Global Board of Trustees. “Since 1984, we’ve impacted over 25,000 individuals across the industry and around the world. WEC provides a unique platform to create touchpoints for our recipients to engage with donors as well as allowing our trustees to develop fundraising events that maximize the awareness and donations!”

To that end, DeLuca says the Foundation has developed alternative ways for industry professionals and organizations to donate throughout WEC.

“We’ve introduced a Pickleball Tournament on Wednesday morning for those not into late-night parties,” she says. “During the June 19 President’s Dinner honoring an MPI Foundation past-chair, Stephen Revetria, we’ll have some dynamic items up for auction for that exclusive audience. And throughout WEC, we’ll be featuring amazing trips and experiences available via our Silent Auction (closing the evening of June 20).”

Of course, no WEC experience is complete with the Foundation’s renowned RENDEZVOUS!

“This year, we take over The Pageant, a storied live music venue in the heart of the St. Louis music scene,” DeLuca says.

Get involved with the MPI Foundationhttps://www.mpi.org/foundation in whatever way you prefer—and follow @MPIFoundation on social media.