ORLANDO, Fla. — (April 2, 2013) – Clean the World announces the appointment of former White House director of events Laura Schwartz and government relations consultant Kelly Cohen to the non-profit’s board of directors. The organization helps save lives around the world by collecting and recycling soap and shampoo products discarded by the hospitality industry in North America and Macau, China.

Schwartz produced more than 1,000 events as the White House director of events for the Clinton administration, and is now a professional speaker, television commentator and author of the best seller Eat, Drink & Succeed. She appears on screens and stages all over the world motivating people to succeed both professionally and personally.

“I am inspired by the staff, volunteers and partners of Clean the World who truly are saving lives and revolutionizing hygiene at home and abroad,” Schwartz said. “It is an honor to be part of Clean the World’s critical mission, which has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap in over 65 countries while creating pivotal partnerships, and diverted more than 750 tons of landfill waste in the U.S. alone.”

Schwartz is a member of the National Speakers Association, and serves on the boards of the American Heart Association and Event Solutions magazine. In recognition of her commitment to service, she was named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Chicago” by Today’s Chicago Woman magazine, and one of Chicago’s “5 Most Bold and Beautiful” by Chicago magazine. Among other honors, Schwartz is the recipient of the Kemble Leadership Foundation Award for Excellence, and the Leadership in Education award from American University in Washington, D.C.

Cohen is the managing partner of Southern Strategy Group’s Orlando office. She is recognized as a forceful advocate for clients, with her primary focus on local and state government, transportation, land use, economic development, public-private partnerships, and business development. Having worked closely with leaders at the local, state and federal level, Cohen understands the importance of the intersection between policy and politics, and brings a unique understanding of the market. She has been recognized as the Woman of the Year for Orlando Business Journal‘s “40 under 40” and in Orlando Magazine‘s annual list of “50 Most Powerful People” in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

“Living and working in downtown Orlando, I am proud to have Clean the World in my back yard,” Cohen said. “It has been amazing to see first hand how this local charity is making a global impact, growing from a handful of local properties four years ago to nearly 2000 today. I’m honored to join the board of directors, and look forward to engaging Florida’s business and political leaders in our effort to save lives with soap.”

Clean the World co-founder and CEO Shawn Seipler says the new board members bring immeasurable value to Clean the World through their connections and diversity.

“With their help, the awareness we’ve created in the hospitality industry can be replicated in the political, corporate and philanthropic arenas regionally, nationally and globally,” Seipler said.

With the addition of Schwartz and Cohen, Clean the World’s board of directors now comprises eight members:

Shawn Seipler – executive director, Clean the World Foundation

Paul Till – managing director, Clean the World Foundation

Mark Rucker – vice president, lodging, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Kelly Cohen – managing partner, Southern Strategy Group

Laura Schwartz – principal, White House Strategies

Bob Scaglione – former chief marketing officer, Sharp Electronics

Dr. Paul J. Skomsky – DDS

Peter Caparis – founder, Sonoma Soap Company

Clean the World Foundation Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization with the mission of saving millions of lives around the globe. Clean the World leads a global hygiene revolution to distribute recycled soap and hygiene products from more than 1,700 hospitality partners to children and families suffering from high death rates due to the top two killers of children worldwide – acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and diarrheal diseases (cholera). Since 2009, Clean the World has distributed more than 12 million bars of soap. Through the “ONE Project” launched in late 2012, Clean the World provides hygiene kits domestically to the homeless and families in transition. For more information visit: http://localhost:8888/cleantheworld.

CONTACT:

Scott Chapman

Clean the World

(407) 574-8353 ext. 101

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/ctwf