The Millennium Foundation officially launched its
global initiative to finance healthcare for the world’s poor by presenting their initiative to the United Nations on Sept. 23.
The initiative will allow travelers to voluntarily donate $2 every time they purchase travel through Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport and it could potentially raise up to $1 billion, according to officials. Carlson Wagonlit Travel and American Express Business Travel also are among the key players that have joined this campaign--going live in 2010.
The funds will be used to fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases in developing countries by providing the sick with access to much needed medicines.
Here are comments from some of the attendees to the launch:
“We decided early on that this is a worthwhile project,” said Travelport CEO Jeff Clarke. “We are happy to be associated with the donation engines that make it all possible.”
“All of the competitors are coming together for a good cause,” said Amadeus CEO David Jones. “The industry as a whole has been hard hit and it needs something that can give the industry a good feeling.”