The contribution marks the 10th anniversary of partnership
between Sands Cares and the foundation and provides support for the
nonprofit's mission to improve public health around the
world
LAS
VEGAS, March 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Las Vegas
Sands (NYSE: LVS) has contributed $500,000 through Sands Cares to The WASH
Foundation, an evolution of the Clean the World Foundation,
bringing the company's total contributions to the nonprofit
organization to more than $5.6
million since kicking off the partnership.
The 2024 Sands Cares investment supports three priority areas:
the annual Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build, which will mark
more than 1 million kits built by Sands Team Members since 2014;
the Drop By Drop Project, a program Sands established with The WASH
Foundation to address water stewardship initiatives in the
company's regions; and capacity-building funding to help The WASH
Foundation expand its hygiene education programs around the
world.
After working with Clean the World for the collection and
recycling of discarded hygiene amenities at the company's resorts,
Sands provided its first donation to the foundation in 2014. Since
that initial Sands Cares engagement, the partnership has produced a
number of impacts, firsts and new programs over the years,
including transformation of the organization's Las Vegas recycling center into a full soap
manufacturing operation, expansion of Clean the World's operations
in Asia and launch of Las Vegas' first mobile shower unit for people
experiencing homelessness.
Through its partnership with Clean the World, Sands has diverted
more than 618,000 pounds of waste from landfills since 2011. The
company has worked with The WASH Foundation to distribute 4.1
million bars of soap to people in need. In the United States, Sands Cares' support has
enabled more than 62,000 showers to people experiencing
homelessness.
"Across a remarkable decade-long partnership with Las Vegas
Sands, we've embarked on numerous impactful initiatives rooted in
improving public health and transforming communities worldwide,"
Shawn Seipler, founder and CEO of
Clean the World Global and chairman of The WASH Foundation board,
said. "From pioneering projects like the Drop by Drop Project,
which supports local water champions in Macao and Singapore, to our collaborative efforts in
promoting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), our
journey has been one of innovation, resilience and meaningful
change. As we celebrate this milestone, we not only honor the
history we've built together but also reaffirm our commitment to
continue championing these vital causes, ensuring a brighter,
healthier future for all."
2024 Sands Cares Contribution
Components
Spanning an increased number of hygiene
kits for people facing hardship and expanded support for water
stewardship and foundation initiatives, this year's Sands Cares
engagement is providing accelerated support for The WASH
Foundation's mission to transform people's lives and improve their
health by promoting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene
for communities in need across the globe.
Hygiene Kits to Address Hardship: One of the first
companies to establish a global kit build program with The WASH
Foundation, Sands has hosted these events in its regions around the
world since 2014. During that time, the company's Team Members have
built 938,000 kits and will increase annual production to 70,000
kits this year, bringing the cumulative total to more than 1
million kits. The WASH Foundation provides these critical hygiene
supplies to people and communities facing hardships and crisis
situations.
Grants for Water Stewardship: As part of the $500,000 donation, Sands has increased its
funding to The WASH Foundation for the Drop by Drop Project to
provide larger grant amounts for the program's two grantees
designated in Macao and
Singapore. This year's recipients
will be announced in summer 2024. The Drop by Drop Project was
established by Sands and The WASH Foundation in 2019 to support
innovative water stewardship projects in Macao and Singapore through grants to local
environmental champions that are addressing the program's goals to
increase water resiliency, reinvigorate ecosystems, incubate new
water solutions and engage the community in these areas.
Capacity-Building Support for the Foundation's Mission:
The third component in this year's Sands Cares contribution is
$100,000 earmarked for
capacity-building to support The WASH Foundation in expanding its
reach, with a priority on hygiene curriculum and programs for
schools. The foundation has established hygiene curriculum for
schools in Uganda and the
Dominican Republic, which will
become models for other school-centric initiatives.
"Our decade-long partnership with The WASH Foundation is our
longest-standing global Sands Cares engagement, and it's provided a
critical mechanism for us to address several core priorities,
including relief for people facing hardship and environmental
advocacy in our resorts and regions," said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global
communications and corporate affairs, who oversees corporate
responsibility initiatives and the global Sands Cares program.
"Many of the programs we've launched with Clean the World and The
WASH Foundation have been pivotal, both for our communities and our
people. The organizations' entrepreneurial drive, understanding of
our goals and ability to deliver on the mission are why we continue
to support these programs and greatly value our long-standing
relationship."
Sands' partnership with Clean the World and The WASH Foundation
supports each of the company's People, Communities and Planet
corporate responsibility pillars – from providing an annual Team
Member bonding opportunity through the kit builds as a supportive
People program to addressing hardships and crisis situations
through hygiene kit contributions and other hygiene-related
initiatives under the Communities pillar and advancing recycling,
conservation and water initiatives under the Planet pillar.
To learn more about Sands' corporate responsibility initiatives
and other global Sands Cares community engagement priorities, visit
https://www.sands.com/responsibility.
To learn more about The WASH Foundation, visit
https://thewashfoundation.org/.
About Sands (NYSE: LVS)
Sands is the world's preeminent developer and operator of
world-class integrated resorts. The company's iconic properties
drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant
economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities
for local businesses and community investment to help make its host
regions ideal places to live, work and visit.
Sands' portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza
Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao and Sands
Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands
China Ltd.
Sands is dedicated to being a leader in corporate
responsibility, anchored by the core tenets of serving people,
planet and communities. The company's ESG leadership has led to
inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and
North America. To learn more,
visit www.sands.com.
About The WASH Foundation
The WASH Foundation, an evolution of Clean the World Foundation,
is a nonprofit with the purpose to improve the quality of life of
women, children and communities by providing enhanced access to
safe water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), soap, hygiene education,
microfinance programs and health programs. The WASH Foundation
partners with local governments and nongovernmental organizations
to strengthen communities' policies, systems and infrastructure for
future generations.
Since its establishment in 2009, The WASH Foundation has helped
serve over 15 million people and helped provide disaster relief
supplies to 1.5 million people. To learn more about The WASH
Foundation, please visit https://thewashfoundation.org.
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SOURCE Las Vegas Sands