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MARKHAM, Ontario -- The newly introduced Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa didn't just opened its doors today for the first time as a Hilton hotel. The hotel team immediately joined a North American effort to encourage and increase volunteer efforts to support the local community in which they serve.

As part of the Hilton Random Acts of Service(TM) community outreach campaign, the Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham today officially performed the first Canadian Hilton Random Act of Service through a generous donation of more than 1,000 pounds of linens and toiletries to ten York Region charities. Among the items donated by the hotel were more than 600 sheets, 400 pillow cases, 100 blankets and 200 bath mats which will go to various shelters, community centres and housing services in the Markham and Newmarket areas.

Recipient organizations include: Canadian Mental Health Association, (Newmarket); Community Living, Newmarket and Aurora; Georgina Association for Community Living; Pathways for Children, Youth and Families of York Region; Women's Centre of York Region; Transitional & Supportive Housing Services of York Region; The Vitanova Foundation; Sandgate Women's Shelter; Yellow Brick House; Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers.

"The new Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa is excited to now be part of one of the world's most respected hotel brands. After hearing about the efforts being made in the U.S. with Hilton Random Acts of Service, it was very natural for us to embrace this program on our very first day as a Hilton, because of our hotel team's established culture and spirit to serve," says Herman Grad, President & CEO of Leisureworld Inc., owners of the Markham hotel property. "We are very proud of our 13-year history of serving the communities of York Region and are delighted to be able to make the first Canadian contribution to this worthwhile campaign."

As President and CEO of Leisureworld Inc., Herman Grad has been active in community issues for many years. The Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa is a frequent setting for fundraising events in support of community institutions and charitable organizations. The company has also supported the United Way of York Region for several years, as well as the Markham Fire Department. The Markham Board of Trade has recognized Mr. Grad's contribution to the community by awarding him the prestigious Anthony Roman Award in 2001.

The linen donation arose out of the Toronto/Markham property's new relationship with the Hilton brand. Formerly an Embassy Suites Hotel® (a member of the Hilton Family of Hotels), the hotel found itself in possession of linens and other hotel items bearing the Embassy Suites Hotel logo that were no longer needed. Based on Hilton's call to action, the hotel's management and staff immediately came up with the idea of donating the items to needy charities, a tradition also long embraced by Leisureworld Inc.

The Hilton Random Acts of Service(TM) (R.A.O.S.) program reaches out to communities across North America by encouraging team members at more than 225 Hilton hotels and resorts to take their internal commitment to service and bring it to life in their own communities. By volunteering time and talent with local citizens, civic leaders and community organizations, each hotel team member has been charged to make a commitment of at least 20 acts of service during 2002.

The ambitious goal of the R.A.O.S. program is to collectively achieve 1 million random acts of service throughout North America by the end of 2002.

"Surveys show people are more than twice as likely to volunteer when they're called on to do so. We simply see the Hilton Random Acts of Service campaign as an effective way to demonstrate how Hilton hotels are recognized as such an important part of their respective communities," said Robert E. Dirks, senior vice president - brand management and marketing for Hilton Hotels Corporation. "I am proud of Herman Grad and the entire Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham team adopting our program from day one as a Hilton, and we look forward to hearing about many more Hilton Random Acts of Service from this fine hotel team in the months ahead."

So how do you track one million random acts of service? A Hilton Random Act of Service can range from larger acts, like a group of Hilton employees who put a new roof on a community center or rehabilitate a local park, to smaller personal acts that Hilton team members can carry out everyday in their own neighborhoods.

Every Hilton Suites team member, from the front office and bell staff, food and beverage to maintenance, housekeeping and office staff, will receive a tracking card on which they will record their personal random acts of service. Those could include donating blood, helping in a food drive or even just giving a needy neighbor a lift to the doctor. The cards recording local good deeds will involve some 70,000 Hilton team members across North America and be collected and tabulated as a part of the brand's overall effort.

"The Hilton Random Acts of Service program makes it easy for any team member to participate on any level in the community, it's just people helping people" said Ashok Baghel, hotel general manager. "As Hilton Hotels across the U.S. are working together to make a difference in their communities, we want to reflect that commitment and make a difference in Canada as well."

Hilton Hotels Corporation HLT develops, owns, manages and franchises more than 2,000 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties in North America.

For more information about the Hilton Random Acts of Service program, visit our new website – coming soon to .

Jeanne Datz Rice
Hilton Hotels Corporation Communications
+1 310 205-4545
Hilton