"love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it"

- Maya Angelou

Valerie Wilson Travel has always been committed to helping the less fortunate. In fact, dedication to improving the world around us is part of our heritage. Valerie Ann Wilson spent the fourteen years prior to founding the travel agency as a volunteer. She often referred to herself during those years as "a non-paid professional fundraiser," whether raising money for the first ever Children's Receiving Home in Westchester, the first such home for abandoned and abused children and a countywide Junior League Project, or being a founding member for the Junior League of London or raising funds for the New York City Ballet or assisting with numerous community organizations in her Bronxville Community or New York City.

That tradition continues as doing what is right comes naturally to the people at VWT. Today every person is the heart of our company's commitment to social and environmental good. Our initiatives are varied from helping in a crisis such as the recent earthquake in Haiti to the Save the Children tsunami relief efforts to giving funds to drill a well for clean water in a village in Zambia as an Abercrombie & Kent Advisory Board contribution.

VALERIE WILSON TRAVEL IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THESE ORGANIZATIONS:

American Heart Association "Go Red for Women" Valerie Wilson Travel has been committed to the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" initiative because Valerie Ann Wilson is a heart attack survivor. Since its inception ten years ago, Valerie Wilson Travel annually hosts tables at regional Go Red for Women Luncheons that brings awareness and support to combat cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of women in the United States. In addition annually, VWT employees collect donations by selling Go Red For Women pins.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Metro New York and Western New York Valerie Wilson Travel is honored to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Metro New York and Western New York on an ongoing basis. Each day we are reminded how the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions are touched and transformed by a heartfelt wish-come-true. As a result of VWT's continued support of the Foundation, they are able to change lives in an instant... and for a lifetime. Co-President Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg is a member of the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Metro New York and Western New York. She is a member of the Governance Committee and Wish Granting Committee. In June 2011, Chairman and CEO Valerie Ann Wilson, Co-Presidents Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg and Kimberly Wilson Wetty with their respective husbands attended the annual Make-A-Wish® Gala at Cipriani Wall Street where over $2 million was raised.

Connecting in Kenya AmericaShare Kenya Program Here in the Mukuru slum on Nairobi's outskirts, Micato Safaris' non-profit foundation, AmericaShare, is providing disadvantaged children and women with access to basic services in order to facilitate sustainable change. AmericaShare's School Sponsorship program has taken thousands of vulnerable children off the streets and placed them in reputable boarding schools, forever changing the direction of their lives. Meet some of these very special women and children and learn about their lives. It is an uplifting experience that many guests mark as a highlight of their safari.

Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy (AKP)
Through A&K, VWT is able to provide financial assistance in AKP efforts:

Adopt a Platoon
The Adopt a Platoon (AAP) Soldier Support Effort, founded in 1998, is a nonprofit organization managed nationwide by volunteer mothers to ensure that deployed United States Service members in all branches of the military are not forgotten by providing needed mail support in the form of letters and care packages. Since May 2009, Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc., in conjunction with Ritz Carlton Hotels, has been collecting merchandise to send to the troops. VWT has thus far collected a truckload containing over 35 cartons of toiletries, dry foods, clock radios, magazines and other provisions that were delivered to the men and women serving in military abroad. VWT was also honored as guests at the West Nyack Post Office for a ceremony that "hoisted" a flag that flew over one of the battalions in Iraq.

American Heart Association "Go Red for Women" Initiative
Valerie Wilson Travel has been involved with the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" initiative. Since its inception ten years ago, Valerie Ann Wilson Travel annually hosts tables at regional Go Red for Women Luncheons that brings awareness and support to the combat cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of women in the U.S. In addition, VWT employees collect donations by selling Go Red For Women pins.

Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the largest autism science and advocacy organization dedicated to funding research into the cause, prevention, treatment and cure for the disease. Valerie Wilson Travel, as a sponsor of the Laurance Rassin "Into Space "exhibit at the Paul Fisher Gallery, donated a portion of the proceeds from the event to Autism Speaks.

Breast Cancer Awareness
For the past six years, Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. and Cottages & Garden Publications holds a Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation to fight against breast cancer.

The Cotchery Foundation
The Cotchery Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to benefit underprivileged youth whose mission is to inspire children to conceive and achieve goals through programs and services designed to enhance their futures. Valerie Wilson Travel is a proud and honored sponsor of the foundation and supports The Cotchery Foundation's mission to plant seeds of hope, opportunity and achievement in the lives of youth, pushing them to reach beyond their current realities and propelling them toward a future brighter than they ever conceived or imagined.

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Helping Haiti
Valerie Wilson Travel management has pledged to match donations made by VWT employees and associates to aid in the effort to rebuild Haiti following the earthquake of January 2010. In an industry that knows very well how small the world really is, Valerie Wilson Travel knows the importance of helping their global neighbors.

Lawrence Hospital Center Corporate Sponsorship
Written by Marcia Manning Lee for My Hometown Bronxville Oct. 7, 2009:

"Kimberly Wilson Wetty and Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg served as Co-Chairs of the Event. Lawrence Hospital Center Hosts 100th Anniversary Gala; Raises Record $3,000,000"
Lawrence Hospital Center celebrated its "100 Years of Caring" in grand style on Saturday, October 3 with a majestic gala at the Panorama Flight Services Hangar at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York. If anyone thought the "great recession" had come to Bronxville, it certainly wasn't shown in the generosity of the residents who contributed to the "once in a century" gala and fund-raiser. Co-Chair Jill Rappaport reported that over $3,000,000 was raised, with the entire amount to go to the benefit of Lawrence Hospital. The airport hangar where the gala was held was transformed into a Moroccan paradise where more than five hundred guests attended the party. The evening began with a cocktail reception, followed by a raffle, silent and live auctions, dinner and dancing. Auction items included a seven-night Tulip River Barge Cruise through Holland and Belgium on an Amadeus Waterways riverboat; Super Bowl tickets and a stay at the Miami Four Seasons Hotel; A spa weekend for two at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City, Mylie Cyrus Concert Tickets; and a Judith Lieber Diamond Box Bag.

"Thanks to our many friends and supporters, our 100th anniversary gala was a smashing success," said Ed Dinan, President and CEO of Lawrence Hospital Center. "The monies we raised will be used to continue our legacy of service to those in need of hope and healing."

Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence: Top Humanitarian
In February of 2009, the TOP HUMANITARIAN AWARD was presented to Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg of Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine revealed the winners of the Awards of Excellence to an audience of luxury travel professionals at an awards ceremony held at the Four Season Hotel in Las Vegas. Candidates for each award were hand-selected by the Luxury Travel Advisor Nomination board, comprised of the elite group of sellers of affluent travel who have graced the cover of the Luxury Travel Advisor since 2005.

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Make-A-Wish Foundation® Metro New York and Western New York
Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities. Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation chapter in Metro New York and Western New York.

As a board member, Jennifer is involved with the chapter's activities and fundraising events including the 7th Annual Wine & Wishes fund raising event. Held at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York City on March 24, 2010, this wine tasting and auction benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York has become one of New York's premier fundraising events. Valerie Wilson Travel, Inc. one of the primary sponsors along with Board members and volunteers raised over $3 million, providing the opportunity to give the gift of hope and community to children who daily are courageously battling life threatening medical conditions.

Valerie Wilson Travel annually participates in the Wine and Wishes event which has to date raised more than $3 million. In March of this year VWT donated as an auction item a four night stay at the Atlantis-The Palm in Dubai for this important event.

On June 16, 2011 Valerie Wilson Travel continued its support of the Make-A-Wish family by sponsoring two tables at the Gala event where $2.1 million was raised. The enormous outpouring of support from all the attendees, plus the efforts of two highly effective fundraisers, honorees Jimmy Lee and Mike Delaney (MAW); a $500,000 challenge match for wishes; and the presence of more than a dozen wish families who touched many hearts. Across all of these initiatives, the hand of the volunteer leadership was very evident. It is truly the board's "leadership by example" that Mike Delaney described, that has made all the difference. Each day, we are reminded of the lives that are touched by Make-A-Wish®, and that VWT's continued support of their efforts to grant every wish and in the process, changing lives in an instant... and for a lifetime.

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Palm Beach Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the world's largest volunteer health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Monies raised fight leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins's disease and myeloma in addition to improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Valerie Wilson Travel is a proud sponsor of the Palm Beach Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Gala. In March Valerie Wilson Travel partnered with Regent Seven Seas to donate a cruise for the evening's auction which raised $330,000.

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Pink Aid Foundation

The Pink Aid Foundation is committed to funding breast cancer support services for local Fairfield County women in need. Valerie Wilson Travel donated several trips to the silent auction as well as smaller items for the gift bags.

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Save The Children Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction
VWT was able to contribute in the effort to aid the children and their families who suffered loss and displacement after the devastating tsunami that hit Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

UCAN: Uhlich Children's Advantage Network - Helping Children and Families in Greater Chicago Area, Illinois
UCAN's mission is to build strong youth and families through compassionate healing, education and empowerment. The organization has specially designed programs in three areas: Healing Trauma, Educating Children & Families, and Preventing Violence. UCAN aids children and families in the greater Chicago area and the rest of Illinois. The branch office of Valerie Wilson Travel Winnetka raised over $4,600 for UCAN at their 11th Annual Youth Advocacy Award Dinner which was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on June 16th. Valerie Wilson Travel supports UCAN Chicago along with the help of contributors Abercrombie & Kent Thailand, Montage Laguna Beach and Montage Beverly Hills and Club Med.

In Addition, Valerie Wilson Travel Has Supported The Following Organizations:

America Friends of Sentebale

Boys & Girls Club of America

BuildOn, Inc.

Centennial Celebration, Highland Park Chamber of Commerce

Covenant House

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Friends of CCDO, Inc.

Japan Earthquake Relief- Save The Children & American Red Cross

Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City

Stand Up To Cancer

Susan G. Komen Foundation

Swim Across America

The Bodhi Tree Foundation

The Muller Works Foundation

TourismCares

Victims of the Taj Mahal Mumbai Attack