Marriott Donates More Than 2,000 Bed Linens During Company's Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day

WASHINGTON, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. today donated more than 2,000 sheets, blankets and pillowcases to more than 25 local nonprofit organizations. The event launched a worldwide donation program, "Marriott's Linen Bank," as the company upgrades its 628,000 beds at 2,400 hotels around the world with a new, more luxurious look and feel.

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"It's a great feeling to know that the linens we're replacing at our hotels, in conjunction with our owners and franchisees, will be put to good use by local nonprofit organizations," said chairman and CEO J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr. "We're also happy that this program supports the 'reduce, recycle and reuse' philosophy that is part of our company's global environmental practices."

The freshly laundered linens were packaged and distributed by Marriott Headquarters employees and executives, including Mr. Marriott, as part of the 7th annual Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day, the company's global day of volunteer service.

"We're thrilled to receive these high-quality linens for the 150 beds we have in our four houses and shelters for women and their families," said Christel Nichols, president of House of Ruth in Washington, D.C. "We'll put the rest to excellent use in our sewing and craft classes."

To request linens as they become available throughout the year, non-profit organizations can link to http://www.marriottdonations.com/, courtesy of United Way of America's online tool called United eWay, or register online with Gifts in Kind International at http://www.giftsinkind.org/.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 65 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Bulgari, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn and SpringHill Suites brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 133,000 employees. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by Fortune(R) magazine. In fiscal year 2004, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $10 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at http://www.marriott.com/.