Generations Touring Company

NOBLEBORO, Maine – 9 April 2009 – Generations Touring Company today announced that it has “adopted” Habitat for Humanity International as its primary philanthropy, and has created a series of “Voluntours,” combining a two- to three-day Habitat for Humanity (HFHI) “work project” with traditional touring. Company owner, Jerry DiPietro said, “We have been searching for the right volunteer opportunity to offer our intergenerational family travelers, and we believe that this program of “Families Helping Familes” is the perfect match for GTC.”

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat has built more than 300,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

Cheryl Delisle, GTC Manager adds, “Our company’s core values include affording an opportunity for young travelers to experience different cultures, and to thus become better citizens of their communities and the world. We want to create environments and experiences which allow family bonding, and joint learning and discovery, and we believe that these “Voluntours” will do just that.  Although HFHI does not admit children under 16 to work on its building sites, due to safety and child labor regulations, GTC is devising concurrent programming for its younger travelers which allows them to interact with the children of the community which we are serving, so they can feel part of the voluntour, and experience the joy of giving.”

For 2009, GTC is piloting their “Families Helping Families” Voluntours with projects in three areas in July and August – Georgetown, SC combined with Myrtle Beach touring; the Sea Island, SC, combined with a Charleston tour; and the Eagle Butte, SD Cheyenne River Reservation and the Black Hills.

“I want to emphasize that this is not our only philanthropy, though,” says Marian DiPietro, Executive Vice President.  “We remain strong supporters of Tourism Cares, which is dedicated to the protection and preservation of cultural and historic sites and resources worldwide.  We are also working with one of our industry partners, Flemming Tours, to promote volunteer experiences in America’s National Parks. We know that there is a desire to serve others in our

market, and we want the fulfillment of that desire to be something that allows families to spend time together.”

Generations Touring Company specializes in highly enriched, educational intergenerational tour programs for the Family Travel Market. Additional Core Values include:

• To Understand Cultures in Their Own Context – Our destinations introduce the unique and must-see that can only be experienced first hand. Interaction with the local people conveys a sincere desire to learn and will honor your host community. Realize that people often have different values and thoughts than yours, not inferior, just different.

• Be Environmentally Friendly –Tourism can promote national and international understanding as well as economic development. However, it can also destroy cultures and environments. Our tours make every practicable attempt to use energy, water and other resources efficiently, lessening the impact on the environment.

• Be Economically Supportive – Be Economically Supportive—Spend your money to support the community and economy of the place you visit. We believe you should reciprocate the hospitality of new friends by using local services, staying in locally owned accommodations and buying local products.

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Contact: Marian DiPietro, Executive Vice President

Generations Touring Company

marian@generationstouringcompany.com