CELEBRATION, Fla., (Aug 21, 2008) – Condé Nast Traveler magazine recently honored Disney Cruise Line as a finalist in four categories of the 2008 World Savers Awards recognizing Disney’s commitment to community outreach and environmental conservation.

The awards honor travel companies around the world in areas of leadership and social responsibility and focus on five key categories: Poverty Alleviation, Cultural and/or Environmental Preservation, Education, Wildlife and Health.



Disney Cruise Line was named as a runner-up in the Wildlife category for their involvement with the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund (DWCF) which has distributed over $11 million to fund conservation programs and engage communities in protecting wildlife in more than 110 countries. Disney was also recognized for a long-term research project in the Bahamas, where researchers are transplanting long-spined sea urchins to control algae and encourage coral reef health and sustainability.

Honorable mentions were also received by Disney Cruise Line in the Cultural and/or Environmental Preservation, Poverty Alleviation, and Education categories, sighting the company’s commitment to community outreach in their ports of call. In 2007, Disney Cruise Line cast and crew members conducted over 65 volunteer projects in 19 port communities. This amounted to more than 6,000 hours of community service and support to local organizations working to make a difference in the lives of children and the environment. Additionally, an ongoing education program has engaged school children in the Cayman Islands to take an active part in preserving their local environments.

"It is an honor to be recognized as a leader in these areas," said Disney Cruise Line President Tom McAlpin. "This award is significant for us because it not only recognizes our company's dedication to being a responsible business partner, but it also celebrates the individual efforts our cast and crew members have taken part in to positively impact the communities of the ports we visit.

The World Savers Awards were determined by 17 judges who reviewed 142 applications and selected 38 finalists to honor as the best in exercising social responsibility.

"These finalists are prime examples of how the world's hotels, airlines, cruise lines and tour operators can inspire their peers to improve our world," said Condé Nast Traveler Deputy Editor for Special Projects Dorinda Elliott.

This year is the first year that cruise lines were included in the competition. The September issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine, now on newsstands, features the awards as its cover story.

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Check out my blogs at: Sentosa Theme Park Blog and Dis-Asia

                        

This is great and VERY deserving.

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My Disney Countdown

Counting down to: Moving my Family to Clermont, FL!
I'm in Florida getting my family settled! Yeah we're going to the parks too!

                        

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Mary

My Disney Countdown

Counting down to: A Return to WDW, 8 Nights at OKW!
See You All When I Return