Carlson Hotels Worldwide Partners with World Childhood Foundation to Help End Exploitation of Children

How can travelers help protect children at risk from exploitation around the world just by checking into a hotel? Beginning October 2004, guests staying at participating Carlson Hotels Worldwide properties in the Americas will be invited to "Make Room in Your Heart for Kids" to benefit the World Childhood Foundation (Childhood) -- the company's preferred charity partner. Participating Carlson hotels include Radisson Hotels & Resorts(R), Park Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson(R) and Park Inn(R).

"With just a $1 per night donation, our guests can easily support 70 children's aid programs in 14 countries," said Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman and CEO of Carlson Companies. The fund raising program is expected to run Oct. 1 through Nov. 31, 2004, and thereafter twice a year for two months at a time.

Of the funds collected, 20 percent will stay in each participating hotel's community to support a children's charity of choice or a local Childhood affiliated project. The remaining 80 percent will be donated to the national World Childhood Foundation, headquartered in New York, for distribution in the U.S. and abroad.

This initiative builds on Carlson's April 2004 announcement that it has become the first North American company to sign a global code of conduct aimed at protecting children against sexual exploitation in the travel and tourism industry.

Carlson is one of the founding sponsors of Childhood. Founded in 1999 by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, Childhood has donated over $7 million to aid children at risk. In the U.S., Childhood supports projects such as:
 

• YouthLink in Minneapolis, Minn., which provides prevention and intervention for teen prostitutes

• Legal Services for Children in San Francisco, which serves abandoned and detained immigrant children

• Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem, New York, a rehabilitation, support services and after school activities center for sexually abused children.

To participate in the "Make Room in Your Heart for Kids" benefit promotion go to

Also See

Keep Kids Reading During Vacation - Country Inns & Suites By Carlson Introduces Children's Library and Family Travel Package

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