Listen to this articleMarriott Bonvoy, the travel program of Bethesda-based hospitality company Marriott International, has teamed up with the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott (JWASM) Foundation to donate $500,000 to World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nonprofit organization founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres.
This donation is expected to significantly strengthen WCK's ability to provide meals during natural disasters and crises around the world and further strengthens the company and the Marriott family's longstanding support of WCK.
Marriott International President and CEO Anthony Capuano announced the donation on Thursday during a taping of Chef Andres' podcast, “Longer Tables,” while he was in attendance at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
This donation is in addition to Marriott Bonvoy's ongoing efforts, in which Marriott Bonvoy will match up to 25 million points on all points donated to charity partners, including WCK, during the month of June.
World Central Kitchen provides millions of meals to people affected by disasters and helps rebuild and strengthen communities through food.
Marriott International and the JWASM Foundation are long-time financial and operational supporters of WCK's global relief efforts.
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Marriott funded WCK's culinary training program and has employed many of the graduates in its hotels. When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, the company jumped into action. In addition to donating funds and volunteering, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, Dorado Beach, provided a kitchen as a base for the WCK team to provide much-needed hunger relief efforts. Marriott continues to support WCK around the world.
Marriott International owns approximately 8,900 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 141 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts around the world.
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation is committed to creating and expanding community access and opportunity by partnering with nonprofit organizations committed to solving today's challenges and building and sustaining vibrant communities. Founded in 1966, the Foundation invests in strengthening the vitality of the Washington region and actively collaborates with communities and partners across industries and sectors to maximize our impact.
