Passports With Purpose 2010: Bid on Hotel Stay from Kiwi Collection!

I am very pleased to announce that LandLopers is joining more than 100 other travel bloggers in the 2010 Passports with Purpose fundraiser.

This remarkable, online fundraiser was originally the altruistic brain child of Debbie Dubrow, Michelle Duffy, Pam Mandel, and Beth Whitman, the bloggers behind Delicious Baby, WanderMom, Nerd’s Eye View and Wanderlust and Lipstick. These four bloggers began the effort in 2008 when they raised $7,500 for Heifer International. Last year they raised a remarkable $30,000 in order to build a school in Cambodia. This year they have raised the ante significantly and the goal is to raise $50,000 in order to build a village in rural India via a partnership with Friends of Lafti (LAFTI).

How do they do this?  Well, it’s a ingenious fundraising idea actually. Every time a donor (ahem, you) gives $10, they receive one entry in a drawing for their prize of choice.  iPads, hotel getaways and even a cruise are up for grabs and you choose what you want to enter for.

I’ve worked in and around the nonprofit world for almost thirteen years (yikes!) and have personally seen the importance of grassroots fundraising efforts such as Passports with Purpose. I believe in the power of people joining together to help their fellow man and I really like the projects Passports with Purpose chooses.

The prizes for the fundraiser have been graciously donated by a variety of corporate sponsors, without whom the Passports with Purpose fundraiser would not be possible. For the LandLopers contribution, I am thrilled that the fine people over at Kiwi Collection have decided to donate a 3 night stay at the gorgeous Tiara Park Atlantic Lisbon. The winner of this amazing prize will spend three luxurious nights at this amazing property in Lisbon, Portugal.

Tiara Park Atlantic Lisbon

If you’re not familiar with Kiwi Collection, you really should be.

As I’ve written about before, one of the most important aspects of any trip is where you decide to spend the night. And as it would turn out, I’ve been using hotels in the Kiwi Collection for years and never knew it. My last stay was at the Four Seasons Lana’i properties.

Kiwi Collection is an independent hotel collection founded by people with a passion for travel and the highest standards for the places they stay. If you read their site and their blog, you’ll see that they also have a fierce sense of humor, which of course scores huge points with me.

Here’s why I love Kiwi Collection:

• Every hotel, including those belonging to well-known international brands, is personally reviewed by one of their industry experts before they’re invited to join Kiwi Collection.
• Hotels do not pay to be included in the Collection
• They really do offer the best publicly available rates and NO booking fees!

Thank you Kiwi Collection for participating in this unique fundraiser!

To bid on this prize, or any of the other great prizes, head over to Passports with Purpose and donate! Hurry though, the fundraiser ends on December 13, 2010.