New A&K Philanthropy Web Site Showcases Grassroots Projects Worldwide
"It began with a commitment to preserve whatever we found, wherever we went." Thus begins the introduction to a new Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy web site (www.akphilanthropy.org), which showcases opportunities for travellers to become involved with 50 pioneering projects worldwide.
"As travel increasingly becomes about the things money cannot buy – shared experiences and treasured memories – more and more of our guests want to make a personal connection and a positive contribution to the places they visit," says Abercrombie & Kent Vice Chairman Jorie Butler Kent, who guides Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. "We hope to use this new web site to multiply the impact of what our guests have started."
Working through A&K's offices around the world, Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy identifies and supports proven grassroots organizations. Guests who want to give something back can contribute to one of these local projects with a tax-deductible donation which can be made directly through the secure AKP web site. 100% of all donations go directly to the chosen project. Guests travelling on many of A&K's small group escorted journeys, private Signature itineraries or Tailor Made programs can visit projects in person, learning more about their destination through the work of its most dedicated people. Examples include:
Friends of Conservation – Masai Mara, Kenya - Every year nearly 6000 acres of primary forest in Kenya disappears due to cutting for firewood, agriculture and human settlement. Working with Conservation Clubs, schools, individuals and local communities, AKP and our guests have helped to plant more than 250,000 trees in the Greater Mara region.
Deepalaya School – New Delhi, India - A quarter of a million children living in the slums and on the streets of Delhi do not attend school. Deepalaya provides education and vocational training for many of these children, focusing on girls whose education is often neglected. AKP has helped to educate 50 children this year, providing tuition, books, uniforms and a daily meal.
Sam's Brothers Clean Water Project – Siem Reap, Cambodia - The lack of clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing is one of the gravest problems facing Cambodia's rural population. Over half of the country's deaths stem from waterborne diseases. Support from AKP has dug more than 300 wells, supplying clean, bacteria-free water to more than 6,000 people.
Bwindi Community Hospital – Buhoma, Uganda - In Uganda, 15 out of 100 children die before the age of 5 from malaria, malnutrition, tuberculosis and AIDS. HIV infection was once a death sentence; today Bwindi Hospital provides anti-retroviral treatment to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child.
For those interested in a more in-depth philanthropic experience, AKP has designed journeys focused on conservation – both cultural and ecological – and on humanitarian relief efforts:
Making a Difference in Morocco (April 9-18, 2010) Many children walk the streets of Morocco, abandoned by their impoverished families. In Marrakech, visit Al Karam, an AKP project that provides a safe haven and daily activities to improve the lives of these children. Prepare an American barbecue meal for them and accompany them to Terre d'Amanar, an award-winning recreational center for substantial eco-tourism in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Then plant a palm in La Palmeraie to help restore its delicate ecosystem. Ten days from $6,225.
A&K Philanthropy Kenya Family Safari (August 26-September 5, 2010) You and your family share more than a wondrous African safari on this worthwhile journey: you are privileged to help support philanthropic efforts in Kenya. Visit the Nyumbani Children's Home, established to help HIV-infected children; meet with women of Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers, a women's self-help project; and join students and teachers at several schools to learn about their lives and plans for the future when you deliver valuable school supplies. Eleven days from $6,990.
Mount Kilimanjaro: To the Summit on a Mission (November 5-17, 2010) Trek to the summit of Africa's highest mountain on a challenging journey for the body and a triumph for the spirit. Participate in efforts to help Kilimanjaro National Park monitor the climate changes that affect this icon of Africa by delivering the third in a series of weather stations. Thirteen days from $6,950. $1200 donation required.
Fighting Climate Change in Antarctica Aboard 'Le Boreal' (December 7-20, 2010) Accompany Dr. James McClintock, award-winning author, scientist and professor of polar and marine biology, on A&K's third Philanthropic Journey to Antarctica. Travel in style aboard the new all-balcony expedition ship MV 'Le Boreal.' Guests on this journey will present U.S. Palmer Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula with new scientific equipment to support on-going and long-term ecological research projects, directly contributing to the study of climate change. Fourteen days from $7,995.
Abercrombie & Kent is committed to providing the most fulfilling and rewarding travel experiences in the world, while assuring guests that their journey helps to preserve some of the world's most extraordinary places for future generations. Described by the Los Angeles Times as "a highly respected company dedicated to conservation and environmentally intelligent tourism," A&K's contributions were recognized at the Conde Nast Traveler World Savers Congress and earned the World Travel & Tourism Council Green Award for Corporate Social Leadership and the ASTA/Smithsonian Environmental Award.
Go to www.akphilanthropy.org to learn more about these projects and how travel can make a difference.
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100% of your charitable gift to Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy goes directly to support local projects worldwide. Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy is established in the United States as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Your charitable gift is tax deductible as provided by law.
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