To plant 40,000 trees in Inner Mongolia
SHANGHAI, Oct. 26, 2012/PRNewswire/ --In line with Marriott International’s ongoing community campaign “Spirit to Serve”, the Marriott cluster of hotels in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ningbo and Wuhan joined forces once again to host the Greater Shanghai Marriott Charity Black Tie Gala Dinner in support of Marriott’s selected non-profit charity partner, Shanghai Roots and Shoots. This years’ event was held at the Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre on September 15, 2012 and successfully raised RMB 668,000.
The evening’s event was attended by 500 distinguished guests who enjoyed a glamorous and entertaining evening and supported the charity through participation in live auction, silent auctions and raffle draw with high value sponsored prizes. Guests enjoyed a 5-course dinner and enjoyed themselves on the dance floor with the band Studio 188.
This was the second major charity event organized by the cluster hotels for Shanghai Roots and Shoots in 2012. The first event, the Greater Shanghai Marriott Annual Golf Charity event, took place on June 1, 2012 at the Shanghai Agile Bin Hai Golf Club. Through these two events, Marriott’s Cluster of Hotels in Shanghai has raised RMB 1,018,000 for the Root & Shoots Million Tree Project which fights against desertification in Inner Mongolia. Shanghai Roots & Shoots has already reached the original goal of planting one million trees earlier this year and now continues to strive for a second million.
“We are thrilled with the outcome,” said Silvio Rosenberger, the Business Council Leader of Marriott Greater Shanghai Cluster. “Our spirit to serve the communities where we are operating in is an important philosophy that Marriott has employed for more than 80 years. This is pulled through in many socially responsible actions we undertake as a company annually and clearly evident in this event held today. Besides the ‘Spirit to Serve’, we also activate our ‘Spirit to Preserve’ in all Marriott Hotels worldwide to protect the environment by saving energy and conserving precious resources across all our hotel operations. Marriott hotels in China launched the ‘Nobility of Nature’ program two years ago which works to protect China's freshwater source, and we proudly show our continued support to the environmental work of Roots and Shoots in 2012 through this contribution of 1, 018,000 yuan for the Million Tree Project.”
The participating Marriott cluster hotels:
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA with more than 3,700 properties in 73 countries and territories and reported revenues of over $12 billion in fiscal year 2011. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 17 brands, including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Bulgari, EDITION, Renaissance, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club. There are approximately 300,000 employees at headquarters, managed and franchised properties. Marriott is consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business operations, which it conducts based on five core values: put people first, pursue excellence, embrace change, act with integrity, and serve our world. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com , and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com .
About Shanghai Roots and Shoots
Shanghai Roots & Shoots was founded as a volunteer organization in November, 1999 as part of the Jane Goodall Institute. Five years later, in November 2004, Roots & Shoots was granted a Non-Profit Organization status by the Shanghai City Government.
Mission Statement of Jane Goodall Institute-Shanghai
The Jane Goodall Institute-Shanghai believes that the future is in the hands of the world’s young people. The program is committed to the understanding and preservation of wildlife and our living world through the education and empowerment of our youth. It aims to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and to empower and inspire individuals to take action to make a positive difference in our world.
The Million Tree Project
The Million Tree Project’s mission is to stop desertification in China by raising a forest of one million trees. It costs RMB25 to plant and sustain a single tree, which in the course of its lifetime can clear 250kg of carbon dioxide. Shanghai Roots & Shoots realized its first million tree goal in July 2012, two years ahead of its target date, thanks to support from the community and events such as this one. With dedicated students, companies, and individuals, the project will now continue to battle back the desert by reaching for the second million trees.
