The Hilton Global Foundation, the philanthropic arm of global hospitality brand Hilton, has announced a US$5.4 million ($6.82 million) investment to support 18 non-profit organisations worldwide — its largest annual contribution to date.
In Asia Pacific, the grants will support five organisations, each addressing a distinct societal challenge, says Hilton in a Feb 10 statement.
One organisation is based in Singapore. The Ocean Purpose Project fights ocean pollution using seaweed bioremediation, plastic to hydrogen technology and community education.
The Foundation’s funding will launch the Beach Hub to Clean Seas initiative, eventually diverting 10,000 pounds of waste annually and providing more than 2,500 learning and career opportunities.
The other beneficiary organisations in the region are Hands On Tokyo (Japan), which works with individuals with disabilities; Streets International (Vietnam), which offers a 14-month hospitality residency training programme for vulnerable youth; the Tourism & Hospitality Skills Council (India), which has equipped more than 1,000 underprivileged youth with industry-certified training and hospitality job placements; and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which is driving food waste reduction and food security across key Southeast Asian and Latin American hospitality markets.
Since 2019, the Foundation has contributed more than US$19 million. According to the Foundation, many grantees provide hospitality-specific training, apprenticeships, mentoring and job-ready skills, connecting participants directly to employment opportunities within the hospitality industry.
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“Today’s announcement highlights the exponential power of partnership,” says Katherine Lugar, executive vice president, corporate affairs, Hilton and president, Hilton Global Foundation. “Together with this year’s Hilton Global Foundation grantees, we are delivering impact far beyond what any one organisation could do alone.”
The Hilton Global Foundation claims the US$5.4 million will create more than 170,000 learning and career opportunities, fund more than 400,000 meals to those in need, provide daily drinking water to more than 12,000 people and prevent nearly 350,000 pounds of carbon emissions.
