CAMBRIDGE, MA.- July, 17, 2007 -Aside from their philanthropic focus and commitment to improving the lives of people in developing countries, KickStart, Direct Relief International and WaterPartners International have another link: all three leading international non-profit organizations rely on Elevate Destinations to organize donor tours to see their work first-hand.

Elevate Destinations is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based sustainable travel company that designs tours that help participants gain a better understanding of the environmental, socio-cultural and economic needs of the places they visit. This summer the travel company has organized a 10-day donor safari in Kenya for KickStart International, a 7-day journey to Kenya and Uganda for Direct Relief International, and a 10-day tour of Ethiopia for WaterPartners International.

KickStart 10-Day Donor Safari To Kenya

Founded in 1991, KickStart International is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization that develops new technologies to help very poor entrepreneurs start businesses in Africa. These low-cost technologies are bought by local entrepreneurs and used to establish highly profitable new small businesses--creating new jobs and wealth, and enabling the poor to climb out of poverty. www.kickstart.org

Elevate Destination’ donor tour, July 11 through July 20, begins in Nairobi, Kenya and combines an informative and educational tour of several KickStart projects with an off-the-beaten path wildlife safari. Among the tour highlights: a visit to a store that sells hand-operated micro-irrigation pumps; a stay at the exclusive Ol Malo Lodge and Conservancy which is perched on an escarpment overlooking East Africa’s northern wilderness of wild mountains and deserts, and a 4X4 jeep safari though the Massai Mara, one of Africa’s greatest parks where guest will be rewarded with sightings of elephants, buffalo, giraffe and other plains animals.

Direct Relief International 7-Day Global Health Journey To Kenya and Uganda

Founded in 1948, Direct Relief International (DRI) is a Santa Barbara, California-based non-profit organization focused on bringing critically needed medicines and supplies to local healthcare providers worldwide. In 2006, Direct Relief provided $201 million in direct aid through medical material assistance and targeted cash grants serving 23.8 million people in 56 countries. www.directrelief.org

Elevate Destinations’ donor tour, July 15 through 21, begins in Nairobi, where guests will spend two days visiting Direct Relief International projects in Kenya. Among the tour highlights: a stay in Kampala and a visit to the Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary, and a stay in Soroti, Uganda to visit more DRI projects. Soroti is a main commercial and administrative center situated near Lake Kyoga, and is known for the rock formation near the town, as well as a variety of Muslim mosques, Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and churches.

WaterPartners International 10-Day Water Ambassadors Tour To Ethiopia

WaterPartners International works in partnership with donors and local communities to provide clean drinking water in developing countries. Its first water project was in El Limon, Honduras in 1990. Since then, WaterPartners has expanded its work to Guatemala, El Salvador, Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Kenya. www.water.org

Elevate Destinations’ donor tour, September 1 through 9, begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a tour of the city. Among the tour highlights: visits to sites outside the city where programs are underway to improve drinking water and sanitation, and a stay in Axum. Axum is a United Nations World Heritage site, the home of the Queen of Sheba, and where the Ark of the Covenant is said to be preserved in the Church of Saint Mary of Zion.

About Elevate Destinations

Founded by Dominique Callimanopulos in 2005, Elevate Destinations is a leading sustainable travel company that caters to luxury-oriented travelers seeking once-in-a-lifetime adventures to exotic destinations where they also have an opportunity to better understand the environmental, socio-cultural and economic needs of the places they visit. Elevate Destinations offers group and customized tours and retreats to Africa, India, Brazil and Southeast Asia and strategic travel planning for international non-profits.

For more information, visit www.elevatedestinations.com.

Elevate Destinations

Elevate Destinations

Founded by Dominique Callimanopulos in 2005, Elevate Destinations is a leading global sustainable travel company that caters to luxury-oriented travelers seeking once-in-a-lifetime adventures to exotic destinations where they also have an opportunity to better understand the environmental, socio-cultural and economic needs of the places they visit. Elevate Destinations offers customized group tours and retreats to Africa, India, Latin America and Southeast Asia, and organizes donor trips for both profit and non-profit organizations. For more information, visit www.elevatedestinations.com

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