Westgate Resorts Donates $10,000 to Drug Prevention Program

ORLANDO, Fla., October 25 / -- Westgate Resorts Foundation is donating $10,000 to help bring a drug-abuse prevention program to schools in Orange and Osceola counties.

The New York-based non-profit group, Periwinkle National Theater will be coming down to Orlando to perform, "Halfway There," a real-life experience re-enactment of five teenagers who have struggled through substance abuse rehabilitation.

The show will be performing at schools in Orange and Osceola counties for Red Ribbon Week, a dynamic program that helps students to be drug-free. "Halfway There" and the Periwinkle National Theater are great partners and I am pleased to help aid in their mission of keeping kids off of drugs and in the class rooms, " said Westgate Resorts Founder and CEO David Siegel.  "I am proud that our organization can help support a group promoting such a worthy cause."

Westgate Resorts is also providing in-kind support with free accommodations for the traveling show members.  This is the fourth year that Westgate has sponsored the program in Florida.  

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Westgate Resorts:

Through David A. Siegel’s vision, persistence and resourcefulness, Central Florida Investments, Inc. (CFI) has become the largest privately held corporation in the Central Florida area. Founded in 1970 as a real estate development firm, CFI now operates dozens of other businesses in addition to Westgate Resorts including: hotels, insurance, magazines, real estate, travel services, oil, cattle, and internet companies.

From a tiny orange grove and the dream of a man working out of his garage, Westgate Resorts and its parent company, Central Florida Investments (CFI), have grown into the largest privately-held timeshare company in the world employing over 10,000 around the United States.

Westgate Resorts Foundation:

The Westgate Resorts Foundation, created in early 2001, raises funds to be given to charitable organizations across the United States. In the nearly seven years since the Westgate Resorts Foundation was created, more than $2 million each year is distributed to more than 100 different groups that are improving the quality of life for the people who need it most. “It’s important to our company to be a responsible and conscientious corporate partner in the communities which are home to our resorts as well as our employees and their families.  The diversity of the charities represented by the Westgate Resorts Foundation reflects the diversity of our company’s employees. Each step of the process in setting up the foundation, as well as reviewing grant applications and making recommendations for funding, is administered by Westgate Team Members,” states David A. Siegel, Chairman of the Westgate Resorts Foundation.

The Foundation has elicited considerable media attention because of its unique method of operating.   One hundred percent of the funds donated to the Foundation are distributed to the charities the fund was created to help. This is made possible via the generosity and commitment of Westgate Resorts owner David Siegel, who pays all of the Foundation’s operating expenses. Another noteworthy aspect of the Foundation’s operations is that it generates a considerable portion of its funds from its marketing partners and vendors

who, along with renters, owners and company employees, all work together in this philanthropic effort.