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TripAdvisor Announces Winners and Donation to Save the Children
One of Five Nonprofit Winners To Receive the Most Votes During 3-Month Competition
WESTPORT, Conn. (Nov. 13, 2008) — The results are in — and not just for the presidential election, but for TripAdvisor's "More than Footprints™" philanthropic initiative. The company believes in the power of the collective voice, so TripAdvisor recently asked the public to decide how to allocate its $1 million donation to five travel-related nonprofits, including Save the Children.
Placing the power in the people's hands, between September 15 and November 9 more than one million votes were cast at www.tripadvisor.com/Causes, allowing TripAdvisor travelers to weigh in on how the donation should be distributed. Based on the percentage of total votes each organization received, the final results are:
- Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – $392,000 based on 39.2% of the vote
- Save the Children – $347,000 based on 34.7% of the vote
- The Nature Conservancy – $137,000 based on 13.7% of the vote
- Conservation International – $70,000 based on 7% of the vote
- National Geographic Society – $54,000 based on 5.4% of the vote
TripAdvisor has experienced tremendous growth over the past eight years, putting the company in a position to support some outstanding nonprofits that are making a positive difference in people's lives and the natural environment.
"In the midst of the United States' historic presidential election, it was great to see such strong voter turnout to help nonprofit organizations," said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor. "Thanks to the guidance of people around the world who participated in this 'democratic philanthropy' initiative, each of these nonprofits is a winner."
The inspiration for the initiative name "More than Footprints" comes from the popular travel mantra, "Take only pictures, leave only footprints." TripAdvisor believes people can leave more than footprints behind when traveling – by making a difference in the places they visit. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly visitors*, nine million registered members and 20 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 300,000+ hotels and attractions (http://www.tripadvisor.com).
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) 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 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 100 countries.
