Greystone Joins the Global Hygiene Revolution

Greystone Hotels is Clean the World’s newest management company partner in the western region. This is an exciting affiliation for Clean the World because of Greystone’s commitment to environmentally friendly hospitality management. The company’s boutique hotels and inns follow eco-friendly business practices and an environmental leadership program to create awareness at the property-level.

In addition to adopting earth-friendly purchasing, landscaping and water conservation practices, Greystone now recycles soap and bottled amenities through Clean the World. The following Greystone properties currently participate in our Hospitality Partner Program:

     · Hotel Griffon
     · The Bristol Hotel San Diego
     · TownPlace Suites Bend
     · Creekside Inn Palo Alto
     · King George Hotel
     · Inn at Union Square
     · Elan Hotel
     · Fairfield Inn & Suites Bend Downtown
     · Empress Hotel

The California Green Lodging Association rewarded Greystone’s practices in 2009 by certifying seven of the company’s California properties for sustainability efforts.

Clean the World Adds 2 New Board Members

Today Clean the World issued this press release announcing the addition of two new members to our board of directors.

Clean the World Adds 2 New Board Members 

Laura Schwartz and Kelly Cohen to Help Promote Life-Saving Mission 

ORLANDO, Fla. — (April 2, 2013) – Clean the World announces the appointment of former White House director of events Laura Schwartz and government relations consultant Kelly Cohen to the non-profit’s board of directors. The organization helps save lives around the world by collecting and recycling soap and shampoo products discarded by the hospitality industry in North America and Macau, China.

Schwartz produced more than 1,000 events as the White House director of events for the Clinton administration, and is now a professional speaker, television commentator and author of the best seller Eat, Drink & Succeed. She appears on screens and stages all over the world motivating people to succeed both professionally and personally.

“I am inspired by the staff, volunteers and partners of Clean the World who truly are saving lives and revolutionizing hygiene at home and abroad,” Schwartz said. “It is an honor to be part of Clean the World’s critical mission, which has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap in over 65 countries while creating pivotal partnerships, and diverted more than 750 tons of landfill waste in the U.S. alone.”

Schwartz is a member of the National Speakers Association, and serves on the boards of the American Heart Association and Event Solutions magazine. In recognition of her commitment to service, she was named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Chicago” by Today’s Chicago Woman magazine, and one of Chicago’s “5 Most Bold and Beautiful” by Chicago magazine. Among other honors, Schwartz is the recipient of the Kemble Leadership Foundation Award for Excellence, and the Leadership in Education award from American University in Washington, D.C.

Cohen is the managing partner of Southern Strategy Group's Orlando office. She is recognized as a forceful advocate for clients, with her primary focus on local and state government, transportation, land use, economic development, public-private partnerships, and business development. Having worked closely with leaders at the local, state and federal level, Cohen understands the importance of the intersection between policy and politics, and brings a unique understanding of the market. She has been recognized as the Woman of the Year for Orlando Business Journal's “40 under 40” and in Orlando Magazine's annual list of “50 Most Powerful People” in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

"Living and working in downtown Orlando, I am proud to have Clean the World in my back yard,” Cohen said. “It has been amazing to see first hand how this local charity is making a global impact, growing from a handful of local properties four years ago to nearly 2000 today. I’m honored to join the board of directors, and look forward to engaging Florida's business and political leaders in our effort to save lives with soap."

Clean the World co-founder and CEO Shawn Seipler says the new board members bring immeasurable value to Clean the World through their connections and diversity.

“With their help, the awareness we’ve created in the hospitality industry can be replicated in the political, corporate and philanthropic arenas regionally, nationally and globally,” Seipler said.

With the addition of Schwartz and Cohen, Clean the World’s board of directors now comprises eight members:

Shawn Seipler – executive director, Clean the World Foundation

Paul Till – managing director, Clean the World Foundation

Mark Rucker – vice president, lodging, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Kelly Cohen – managing partner, Southern Strategy Group

Laura Schwartz – principal, White House Strategies

Bob Scaglione – former chief marketing officer, Sharp Electronics

Dr. Paul J. Skomsky – DDS

Peter Caparis – founder, Sonoma Soap Company

About Clean the World 

Clean the World Foundation Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with the mission of saving millions of lives around the globe. Clean the World leads a global hygiene revolution to distribute recycled soap and hygiene products from more than 1,700 hospitality partners to children and families suffering from high death rates due to the top two killers of children worldwide – acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and diarrheal diseases (cholera). Since 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap. Through the "ONE Project" launched in late 2012, Clean the World provides hygiene kits domestically to the homeless and families in transition. For more information visit: http://www.cleantheworld.org.

CONTACT:

Scott Chapman

Clean the World

schapman@cleantheworld.org

(407) 574-8353 ext. 101

Disneyland Resort Honored for Donations

The Disneyland Resort issued this press release following a recent visit by Clean the World co-founder and CEO Shawn Seipler

Clean the World Foundation, Inc. Honors Disneyland Resort for Recycling Bath Amenities to Change Lives and Protect the Environment

Disneyland Resort donated nearly 20,000 lbs. of gently used bath amenities in 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. – March 7, 2013 – Disneyland Resort was awash with pride today when it was honored by the nonprofit organization Clean the World Foundation, Inc. for its environmental efforts to recycle partially used soap and bottled bath amenities. The nonprofit organization sanitizes, repackages and distributes the amenities – which may otherwise be discarded by the hospitality industry – to people in need around the world, helping to prevent hygiene-related illnesses.

Shawn Seipler, CEO and co-founder of Clean the World, recognized the Disneyland Resort at a ceremony today, acknowledging the work of all three Resort hotels and their collective donation of nearly 20,000 pounds of amenities in 2012. Combined, the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa donated more than any other property in California.

“We are pleased to recognize the Disneyland Resort for their continued support,” said Seipler. “The fact that every hotel at the Disneyland Resort is among our top participants speaks to their commitment to join the global hygiene revolution and inspire positive change in the world.”

Since July 2011, the Disneyland Resort has worked diligently with Clean the World to recycle the bath amenities from its 2,402 hotel rooms. In 2012, the three properties collected 10,000-pounds of soap bars that were recycled into 53,392 life-changing bars of soap. Nearly 9,500-pounds of bottled bath amenities also were donated, amounting to a combined total of 19,400-pounds, or 9.7 tons of waste diverted from landfills and repurposed.

Disneyland Resort housekeeping cast members voluntarily collect the used amenities after guests check out of their rooms. From there, they are sent to a processing facility after which they are sent to countries in need around the world.

“The passionate voluntary support of our housekeeping cast members is what makes this program successful at the Disneyland Resort, said Pilar Hamil, general manager of the Disneyland Hotel. “They have brought this program to life at our hotels and thousands of lives have already been changed because of them.”

For more information about Clean the World Foundation, Inc., visit www.cleantheworld.org.

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About Clean the World, Inc. – Clean the World Foundation Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with the mission of saving millions of lives around the globe. Clean the World leads a global hygiene revolution to distribute recycled soap and hygiene products from more than 1,700 hospitality partners to children and families suffering from high death rates due to the top two killers of children worldwide – acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and diarrheal diseases (cholera). Since 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap. Through the “ONE project” launched in late 2012, Clean the World provides hygiene kits domestically to the homeless and families in transition. For more information visit www.cleantheworld.org.

About the Disneyland Resort – Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 973-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. With 25,000 cast members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County’s largest employer and generates $4.7 billion for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 650 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit www.disneyland.com.

Another Rewarding Soap Distribution Trip to Honduras

The following post is from Rosanna Kingston, Clean the World's nonprofit partnership and volunteer coordinator.

The Clean the World soap distribution team started their journey to Honduras on Tuesday, Feb 23. On the team I was accompanied by Terry Dunbar from the Hyatt Regency in Jersey City, NJ; Kathryn Coiner- Collier from the Aloft Charlotte Uptown in Charlotte, NC; Jami Rodman from Las Vegas; and Mary Coiner and Lou Collier from Virginia.

This is Kathryn’s third trip with Clean the World, but this time was special because she was joined by her parents: Mary and Lou. Even better, Lou brought his guitar and was ready to lead our now famous (at least in one small part of Honduras) hand washing song! Kathryn is the creator of this song and the “Super Jabon” character who sings it.

Terry Dunbar from the Hyatt Regency Jersey City.

We traveled all day on Tuesday. Our trip started with a one-hour flight from Miami to Orlando, and then a connecting flight to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Once we retrieved our luggage and cleared customs, we were greeted by the in-country partners from Joint Task Force-Bravo, Iris Medina and Lieutenant Colonel Michael Frazier. We all boarded one vehicle and headed to Soto Cano Air Base in Comayagua. The drive time was three hours.

Soto Cano Air Base (commonly known as Palmerola Air Base) is a Honduran military base five miles south of Comayagua in Honduras. A modest concentration of U.S. troops and the Honduran Air Force academy use the airbase. The U.S. government once used Palmerola as a base of operations to support their foreign policy objectives in the 1980s. Now the U.S. military uses Soto Cano as a launching point for its war on drugs in Central America, as well as humanitarian aid missions throughout Honduras and Central America.

After breakfast on Wednesday we boarded the vehicles and headed to our first site, the Juan Ramon Molina School. Before the soap was distributed, our team performed a short skit that involves a super hero that fights the germs. Kathryn reprised her original role as “Super Jabon” (Super Soap) and fought the germs played by Terry and Mary. Kathryn explained how to properly wash hands and taught the children our song about hand washing to the tune of "La Bamba." The sounds of Lou’s guitar and the children’s laughter filled the air! The skit is implemented as part of our presentation throughout all the sites where we distribute soap. We met the school leaders and teachers. We hand-delivered 70 bags (400 bars of soap) to the students, and the teachers received Clean the World ONE Project hygiene kits.

That day we visited the following schools:

      - Julio Cesar Lopez - 300 bars of soap
      - Manuel Bonilla - 300 bars
      - Matilde Cordova - 400 bars
      - Inmaculada Kindergarten - 600 bars
      - CE Ramon Ortega - 1,400 bars

We then returned to Soto Cano Base, had a late lunch and packed the vehicles with soap for the following day (800 bags 1,600 bars of soap). After a rest in the afternoon, we freshened up for a night out in the town. A local guide provided transportation and a tour of Comayagua. Comayagua is approximately 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula at an elevation of 594 meters (1,948 feet) above sea level. It is the capital of the Comayagua department of Honduras. The city is noted for its wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture. The central square has a cathedral with the oldest clock in the Americas. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner in a Spanish courtyard.

On Thursday morning after breakfast, we once again boarded the van and drove to the Aspiracion del valle school, where students gathered in the courtyard to welcome us. There were approximately 75 children. We met with the school leaders and then distributed 250 bars of soap. The teachers received Clean the World ONE Project hygiene kits.

That day we visited the following schools:

      - Roberto Mejia Castillo -1,050 bars
      - Julian Mendez - 400 bars
      - Carlos Sanchez School - 1,050 bars
      - Another 10,000 bars of soap will be distributed with U.S. military medical brigades and chapel hikes.

We returned to Soto Cano Air base for a tour of the aircraft. Then freshened up for a military casual dinner event.

Following an early breakfast on Friday morning, we boarded one vehicle for the three-hour drive to the airport for departure to Miami.

One thing that I have noticed with each distribution trip is that the children recognize us and look forward to our visits. The older students remember the words to our song and help us teach the younger students about the importance of hand washing. It reassures us that our message is getting through and that these trips are worthwhile.

Please click here to enjoy more pictures from the trip.

Clean the World Employee Sees the Big Picture

Chris Mares was just looking for a job when he came to work at Clean the World, but he found a lot more. Recycling soap in the operations department opened up an opportunity for him to flex his artistic muscles and make the Orlando production facility a nicer place for employees and visitors. 

When co-founders Shawn Seipler and Paul Till found out that Chris had an interest in painting and a formal art education, they gave him the green light. 

On the facility's back wall, Chris painted a large mural depicting the Clean the World logo and the flags of every country where soap has been distributed.

"A lot of what I've done is still a work in progress," Chris said. "For example, the big mural on the back wall started off as just a logo and the background. I studied it for about two months and then thought about all the dead space around the logo. I thought it needed something else. I got the idea from military insignias on uniforms that indicate where soldiers have served. That inspired me to paint the flags of all the countries where we have distributed soap. When it started there were 15 or 20, now we have more than 60."

Other pieces painted by the Kansas native include a large area that lists the names of donors, and a massive space near the soap press where he painted the logo, a series of bubbles and the slogan, "Recycling Soap Saves Lives."

Chris was blessed with natural artistic talent, and went on to hone his skills at the San Francisco Art Institute. While studying there he got his first taste of large-format painting after landing a job with an interior designer who was the sole occupant of a four-story building.

"He commissioned me to paint a sign on the outside of building. The sign was was 40 feet high and was executed from a scaffold. I painted a chair that was 30 feet high - and 10-foot letters. It took several months and was a great experience."

Chris went on to graduate with straight A's from the Kansas City Art Institute, where he was allowed to skip a semester and graduate early. After becoming a father, however, he decided to go in a different career direction.

"With a family, I couldn't fathom how I could make a living with art," Chris said. "So I went into the construction business. I stuck with it and became a mason. Once I began laying stone it really went nuts because I was back into artistic composition. I had such a good time with that."

When the economy dipped and construction was on the decline, Chris spent some time building interstate bridges in downtown Orlando.

"Whenever I drive past the 408 and I-4 interchange, I point to those bridges and tell whoever is with me that I've been on, in and under every one of them."

Now that his kids are grown, Chris is excited to embrace his artistic side again.

"I didn't expect this to happen when I came to work here, but it began to emerge over time," Chris said. "I was looking for ways to help out within the context of my experience. The warehouse really did need some aesthetic improvement. Luckily there is still a long way to go. I can stay busy with this project for quite a while."

AH&LA Partners With Clean the World

The American Hotel & Lodging Association issued this press release regarding our partnership:

AH&LA PARTNERS WITH CLEAN THE WORLD

Members receive savings through soap, bottled amenities recycling

Washington, February 11, 2013 – The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has joined forces with Clean the World Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization that collects and recycles used soap and bottled amenities from hotels, to offer AH&LA members an exclusive additional five percent discount per room.

More than 1,700 hotels across North America currently participate in the program. Since 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap to homeless shelters and in countries suffering from high death rates due to acute respiratory infection and diarrheal disease, the top killers of children under the age of five.

Properties that participate in the initiative receive a quarterly impact statement detailing the total weight of the amenities shipped and an Interactive Impact Calculator that calculates the lifesaving impact of their donations. Hotels also are given bilingual training posters (English and Spanish) and access to an online training video for housekeeping staff. Information cards are available for guestrooms, as well as plaques that can be displayed in the lobby educating guests on the program. Additionally, hotels can organize soap drives for their communities, in addition to other volunteer opportunities.

“Clean the World’s innovative combination of green sustainability and humanitarian efforts already has attracted support from many hotel chains and resorts,” said AH&LA President/CEO Joe McInerney, CHA. “We are pleased to be able to offer our members an additional discount to participate in such a worthy program.”

“The North American hospitality industry puts more than 300 tons of soap and plastic bottles in local landfills every day,” said Clean the World CEO/Co-founder Shawn Seipler. “With this partnership, we are eager to increase the industry’s awareness of our socially-responsible recycling programs and engage more hotel companies and individual properties in our efforts to both prevent needless waste and provide essential hygiene items, as well as stem the tide of deaths due to lack of proper hygiene.”

For additional information and to participate in the program, visit www.ahla.com/green.

# # #

Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, AH&LA is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, student and faculty members, and industry suppliers. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AH&LA provides members with national advocacy on Capitol Hill, public relations and image management, education, research and information, and other value-added services to provide bottom-line savings and ensure a positive business climate for the lodging industry. Partner state associations provide local representation and additional cost-saving benefits to members. Visit www.ahla.com.

Clean the World Foundation Inc,. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with the mission of saving millions of lives around the globe. Clean the World leads a global hygiene revolution to distribute recycled soap and hygiene products from more than 1,700 hospitality partners to children and families suffering from high death rates due to the top two killers of children worldwide – acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and diarrheal diseases (cholera). Since 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap. Through the “ONE project” launched in late 2012, Clean the World provides hygiene kits domestically to the homeless and families in transition. For more information, visit www.cleantheworld.org.

New Nashville Star: Gaylord Opryland Resort

Nashville has produced a few overnight sensations over the years - and the latest one is a soap star: The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center.

Since adopting our soap and amenity recycling program in April of last year, the housekeeping team has collected 6,204 pounds of soap, which means 33,088 newly pressed bars will be distributed to children and families in need worldwide. They also collected 4,657 pounds of bottled amenities, bringing the total amount collected to 10,861 pounds, or 5.4 tons.

Thanks, Gaylord Opryland, for the incredible effort!