People to People Ambassador Programs Marks Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina With Summer Travel Program and Online Campaign

SPOKANE, Wash., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- People to People Ambassador Programs, the leader in global educational travel experiences, marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina this summer with a new travel program called "Leadership Summit: Remembering Hurricane Katrina," which actively engages participants in community service projects throughout New Orleans and sheds light on the region's rebuilding efforts.  In addition to the travel program, the company has launched an online campaign, remembernola.com.  The campaign calls on people to remember Hurricane Katrina and take immediate action to provide support with the ongoing recovery efforts in New Orleans.

Taking place in New Orleans from June 28 – July 6, 2010, "Remembering Hurricane Katrina" is part of People to People's premier Leadership Programs that teach students in grades five through twelve important skills through workshops, community service projects and discussions with well-respected authorities on service and leadership.  Stemming from People to People's strong commitment to community service; the travel program and campaign were developed to commemorate the upcoming fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and are a direct response to the need for additional recovery assistance in the city of New Orleans.  The company's launch of remembernola.com, an online campaign, includes a video highlighting the current state of New Orleans, photos and a call to action for people to download the NOLA Badge – a renewed symbol of Hurricane Katrina – and vote for a local charity organization to receive a $50,000 donation gift at the end of the campaign.

"We forget that Hurricane Katrina put 80 percent of New Orleans under water, killed more than 1,600 people, destroyed 200,000 Gulf Coast homes and displaced nearly one million people," said Peg Thomas, president of People to People Ambassador Programs.  "Our travel program and online campaign serve as a call to action for all of us to participate in the rebuilding efforts and never forget about the people of New Orleans."  

People to People Ambassador Programs is encouraging everyone to visit remembernola.com, share the website with friends and family, download the NOLA Badge and vote for one of the five New Orleans charities featured on the site:  Common Ground Relief, Make it Right, Afterschool Partnership, Save our Schools and Tulane University Community Health Center.  For every NOLA Badge downloaded, People to People will donate $1; with the goal of making a $50,000 donation to the charity that receives the most online votes.

"We lived through the devastating events of Hurricane Katrina, and our city has come a long way since then," said Stephen Waddell, Area Director for People to People Ambassador Programs in New Orleans.  "But there's so much left to be done. Statistics show that 36 percent of New Orleans' homes remain empty, and public buildings like schools and hospitals are still in dire need of rebuilding or repair."

The "Remembering Hurricane Katrina" summer travel program will include talks from Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his brother; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning – both New Orleans natives.  Additional speakers include former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and award-winning film director Spike Lee, who created the Katrina documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.  The program has also invited other notable guest speakers who will provide first-hand accounts of Hurricane Katrina, highlight the lessons learned, give an update on the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and underscore how all of us can give something back to our own communities and make a difference in the lives of others.

Participants in the week-long "Remembering Katrina Program" will have the opportunity to give back to the city of New Orleans first-hand via two major large-scale community service projects:  one is a home rebuilding effort with Habitat for Humanity®, an international non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness worldwide, and the other is a variety of school rebuilding and repair projects throughout New Orleans with HandsOn New Orleans, an independent local affiliate of the Points of Light Institute that serves the needs of the local community.

Students and adults interested in learning more about Remembering Hurricane Katrina can visit www.peopletopeople.com/katrina or remembernola.com.  For additional information about People to People Ambassador Programs visit www.peopletopeople.com or call 877-787-2000.

About People to People Ambassador Programs

People to People Ambassador Programs is the most recognized and respected educational travel provider and has provided more than 400,000 citizens of the world the opportunity to promote peace through understanding. The Ambassador Programs include Citizen, Student, Sports and Leadership to promote international and domestic programs for professionals, students, athletes, and the leaders of tomorrow.

Participation in a program contributes directly to personal success in a globalized world and fosters international friendships. Our hands on, unique, educational travel programs provide access to people and places beyond compare, and combine unique cultural experiences with

personal interaction to create global impact.

For nearly 50 years, People to People Ambassador Programs has helped participants travel to seven continents while maintaining an extraordinary track record of travel safety. Our safety record is the result of many factors, including a reliance on federal guidelines, the strength and experience of our leaders, our organization's expertise and experience in program destination countries, a vast global network of resources and team members, and a sincere commitment to the wellbeing of our Ambassadors and their families. For more information, visit www.peopletopeople.com.

The Ambassador Programs serve as the exclusive educational travel provider of People to People International (PTPI), the nonprofit, Kansas City-based organization founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote peace through understanding worldwide. PTPI and Ambassadors Group are united in their mission of bridging cultural and political borders through education and exchange.                      

About Ambassadors Group

Ambassadors Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: EPAX) is a socially conscious, education company located in Spokane, Washington. Ambassadors Group is the parent company of People to People Ambassador Programs, World Adventures Unlimited, and Book Rags, an educational research website. The company also oversees the Washington School of World Studies, an accredited travel study and distance learning school. Additional information about Ambassadors Group and its subsidiaries is available at www.ambassadorsgroup.com.

SOURCE People to People Ambassador Programs