Tauck World Discovery Donates $52,270 to Save the Children’s Haiti Relief Efforts Employees of Norwalk-Based Company Give and Volunteer to Help Save the Children following the Haiti Quake

Employees of the Norwalk-based Tauck World Discovery and the Tauck family collectively donated $52,270 to help Save the Children’s relief and recovery efforts for Haitian children and families affected by the January 12th earthquake.  The family-owned travel company has a history of generously supporting Save the Children, and during this recent disaster, the company established a matching gift program that tripled employee donations to Haiti. 

“We truly appreciate this contribution by Tauck World Discovery and the Tauck family for our Haiti relief efforts,” said Charles MacCormack, President and CEO of Save the Children. “Experts predict that it could take up to 10 years for Haitian communities to fully recover after this devastating quake. With this added support, Save the Children will be able to expand our efforts to reach even more vulnerable children and families over the coming months and years.”

“Our company’s culture, which has been fostered by the Tauck family for 85 years and is embraced by our employees, places a strong emphasis on responsible corporate citizenship and giving back,” said Sharyn Cannon, Tauck’s Vice President of Business and Human Resources.  “After the earthquake in Haiti we knew we wanted to help, but the best way to channel our efforts wasn’t entirely clear.  Partnering with such a respected and reliable group as Save the Children was the perfect solution.  We knew that by working with Save the Children, the funds donated by our employees and the 3-to-1 match from the Tauck family would be put to the best possible use.”

Since the earthquake struck Haiti, Save the Children has reached more than 530,000 children and adults, providing food, medicines, supplies, and sanitation facilities in temporary settlements in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, including Jacmal and Leogane.  The agency is registering unaccompanied children to help reunite them with their families and supporting children’s protection through child-friendly spaces at temporary camps.  In addition, the agency is supporting education through temporary learning spaces and classrooms, providing tents and supplies.  Save the Children has worked in Haiti since 1978 and currently has 695 staff, almost all Haitians, in the country responding to the crisis.

In addition to making donations, Tauck employees offered to volunteer their time to help Save the Children handle the increased volume of incoming phone calls from supporters donating to Haiti.  During the two-week period following the earthquake, Save the Children’s call center activity increased four-fold, and center operating hours were extended into the night to accommodate the deluge of donations.

The gift to Haiti marks the second donation by Tauck World Discovery for Save the Children’s emergency relief efforts over the past few years.  The company’s previous donation helped provide humanitarian aid to children and families affected by the cyclone in Myanmar in 2008.

Donations to Save the Children’s Haiti Emergency response can be made at www.savethechildren.org or by calling 1-800-728-3843 or 1-203-221-4030.  A $10 donation also can be made by texting "SAVE" to 20222.  Standard message rates apply.

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Save the Children is the leading, independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 29 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.