Clean the World’s Shawn Seipler and ACI’s Nancy Bock.

After much planning, preparation and promotion the Inaugural Clean the World Gala finally arrived Nov. 5 at The Peabody Orlando, and by all accounts, it was worth the wait.

Gala sponsors, such as The American Cleaning Institute (ACI), Marietta Corporation, Caesars Entertainment, The Walt Disney World Resorts, LATHER and countless others helped make the event an evening of fun for all involved.

“We were so excited to offer this Gala as a ‘thank you’ to our incredibly generous hospitality partners,” says Shawn Seipler, CEO and co-founder at Clean the World. “Throughout the evening, as always, we never lost sight of our mission — to recycle soap and save lives. The children and families who receive our soaps and bottled amenities in more than 45 countries are the real stars of this event.”

Seipler and co-founder Paul Till took turns poking fun at one another as they told their entrepreneurial story that led to the formation of Clean the World. It’s still a work in progress, but it is being accomplished with passion, planning and a good dose of humor.

Clean the World celebrity spokesperson Mariana Klaveno was one of the presenters at the event, and recording artist Jean Beauvoir performed “I Keep Holding On (A Song for Haiti).” The host, WKMG-TV6 (CBS-Orlando) chief meteorologist Tom Sorrells, was pleased with the way the whole night came together.

“Orlando is filled with big fundraising events, Galas and other good causes,” Sorrells says. “Clean the World really took a bold step forward and pulled off a terrific first-time event that truly was a celebration. I can only imagine what it will be like in years to come.”

An estimated 400 guests attended the Gala, which was promoted as a celebration of the hospitality industry’s embrace of soap and bottled amenities recycling. BIZBASH has the details.