WASHINGTON - (Business Wire) Doubletree Hotels and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian organization, have teamed up to motivate students to help fight hunger this holiday season through a unique relationship that will collect food for local food banks in the United States and raise funds for WFP's hunger relief operations abroad. The “Community Drive to Fight World Hunger” campaign is part of Doubletree’s award-winning Teaching Kids to CARE community outreach program, which raises awareness about key social and environmental issues through educational activities and fosters a sense of activism, empowerment and reward among students. Food drive collection activities will take place at participating Doubletree hotels in more than 125 cities worldwide between now and December 18.
“Doubletree’s Community Drive to Fight World Hunger is educating students on the hunger needs of their neighbors and then extending that awareness to other regions of the world. Our hope is that participants will gain a sense of the scope of the hunger crisis and their role in addressing it through hands-on donation and fundraising efforts,” said Mary Beth Parks, vice president – brand marketing for Doubletree Hotels. “Students will also learn ways to impact this worldwide challenge by making enlightened changes in their own lives, like cutting down on food waste during meals or donating regularly to a local food bank.”
This fall’s Teaching Kids to CARE campaign educates students on the impact hunger has on both a local and global level, highlighting the critical importance of food donations during the holiday season. To serve their communities, students nationwide are filling self-decorated food collection containers and organizing “Great Community Food Collection” drives, encouraging family, friends and fellow citizens to feed their hungry neighbors through non-perishable food donations. All collected non-perishable food items will be presented to a variety of non-profit community outreach organizations including local food banks, rescue missions, mobile meal delivery programs and more -- directly connecting students to the hunger needs present in their own communities.
To celebrate kids’ local community contributions as well as honor a global perspective to the hunger crisis, Doubletree has pledged to contribute $0.05 for every non-perishable food item donated to Friends of the World Food Program (Friends of WFP), a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that builds support for WFP operations. Funds will be donated exclusively to WFP’s school meals program, which provides meals to more than 20 million of the world’s poorest schoolchildren each year. Research from the WFP has found that supplying meals to students at school significantly increases enrollment, attendance and academic performance – especially for girls. This reinforces Doubletree’s mission of supporting and enhancing educational efforts for youth worldwide and engaging Teachings Kids to CARE participants in actively supporting academic aspirations through the power of community outreach.
“WFP seeks partnerships that, in addition to monetary donations, are committed to creating lasting change and addressing the core of the hunger epidemic worldwide,” said Friends of WFP President and CEO, Karen Sendelback. “Doubletree’s youth-focused program ensures that future generations of leaders are aware of this issue and are able to take proactive steps to help eradicate world hunger.”
Founded in 2002, Teaching Kids to CARE is a community-based outreach initiative that has connected local Doubletree hotels with more than 150,000 students in local elementary schools and youth organizations. Teaching Kids to CARE educates children about the importance of making environmentally and socially conscious decisions for their community and their world at the earliest ages.
Communities and travelers can also do their part by donating non-perishable food items to their local participating Doubletree hotel. Additional information about participating hotels and special events throughout the months of November and December will be posted regularly on the Doubletree Hotels Twitter newsfeed site beginning today, which is available to the public at www.twitter.com/doubletreehtls.
For more information about environmental awareness and social responsibility programs by Doubletree Hotels, please visit our Think Trees website at www.doubletree.com/thinktrees.
About United Nations World Food Program
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. In 2009, WFP aims to feed 108 million people in 74 countries. Find out more about fighting hunger at www.wfp.org.
About Friends of the World Food Program
Friends of WFP is a U.S.-based, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that focuses on building support in the United States for the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and other hunger relief operations. Friends of WFP unites organizations and individuals committed to solving world hunger. Our education, advocacy and fundraising efforts in the United States support WFP’s life-saving global food assistance and development programs. Friends of WFP is a registered 501(c)(3) organization, as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. To learn more, visit www.friendsofwfp.org.
About Doubletree Hotels
With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in more than 200 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations worldwide, Doubletree hotels and resorts are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today’s business and leisure travelers. From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand’s legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors guest reward program, each Doubletree guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them. To find out more information or make reservations at any Doubletree hotel, travelers may visit our website at www.doubletree.com.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 90 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Our brands are comprised of more than 3,300 hotels in 77 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.
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Doubletree Hotels
Thomas Wingham, 703-883-5315
thomas.wingham@hilton.com
or
Cohn & Wolfe
Sasha Fedulow/Katie Wittenburg
415-365-8552/310-967-2900
sasha.fedulow@cohnwolfe.com / katie.wittenburg@cohnwolfe.com
