XANTERRA PARKS & RESORTS TO DONATE MORE THAN $12,000 WORTH OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO STUDENTS IN GARDINER AND WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA
Xanterra Parks & Resorts, operator of lodges, restaurants and other concessions in Yellowstone National Park, is donating 570 backpacks filled with school supplies to families in need throughout Gardiner and West Yellowstone, Mont.
Xanterra personnel will gather Aug. 9, 2012 in Yellowstone National Park to assemble the backpacks. By donating these school supplies, Xanterra is supporting World Vision’s SchoolTools program which identifies students from families in need. World Vision and Xanterra personnel chose schools in areas where the company has operations in close proximity.
“Supporting our neighbors – particularly those neighbors who are young and just starting out in life – has both immediate and long-term benefits,” said Rick Hoeninghausen, director of sales and marketing for Xanterra’s Yellowstone operations. “Helping children become better students is good for us all.”
The donation of school supplies is one example of Xanterra’s stated core value “Community. Be good citizens and good neighbors.” In Yellowstone, the company also supports the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for Wyoming as a silver level sponsor. In-park lodging and services have been donated to organizations like Make-A-Wish and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Last year Xanterra employees in Yellowstone raised more than $1,000 and two tons of food for the local food bank.
Similar school supply donations are being made at schools near the company’s Denver-area corporate offices, Grand Canyon Railway and Grand Canyon South Rim. In 2012 Xanterra will donate more than 2,200 backpacks worth $50,000. The company plans to donate the same amount of supplies in 2013.