Chevy Chase, Md - On Thursday May 19th over 50 employees of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. corporate office and The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown will host a career day for over 450 7th and 8th grade students of Washington, D.C.’s Charles Hart Middle School. In an area where adult mentors are rare, and the young students struggle against poverty and educational challenges on a daily basis, this outreach coincides with a challenge from First Lady Michelle Obama for corporations to expand the educational horizons for children most in need of a career direction.

Inspiring and engaging young students has been the guiding principle behind Succeed Through Service, the global program started by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. as part of its Community Footprints social responsibility initiative. From attorneys and accountants to sales and marketing staff and senior executives, the day at Charles Hart Middle School will include booths manned by Ritz-Carlton with mentors who will discuss with the 7th and 8th graders what they do, how they do it, and what youngsters in middle school can do now to prepare for a career with a future.

This event is part of the ongoing partnership with Charles Hart Middle School and Communities In Schools of the Nation’s Capital. Previous events have included career exploration visits to The Ritz-Carlton Corporate Office and The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, life-skills training in the classroom delivered by Ritz-Carlton volunteers and, earlier this month, the planting of a Vegetable Garden with the students as part of the Succeed Through Service “Eat Healthy” program.

“It is an honor to partner with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Our students' lives are being enriched through their engagement with the company that represents the gold standard in hospitality. The Ritz-Carlton is exposing our students to new possibilities” said Tobeka G. Green, CEO, Communities In Schools of the Nation’s Capital.

This type of educational initiative is not new to The Ritz-Carlton hotels throughout the United States and around the world. The blueprint for Succeed Through Service was developed and launched in 2009 in partnership with America’s Promise Alliance. Under the leadership of Founding Chairman General Colin Powell and current Chair Alma Powell, America’s Promise Alliance has the mission to help all young people graduate from high school ready for college, work and life.

“We thank you because you’re not only investing in kids, you are investing in the future of our country and the other countries where you are located – and you’re investing in the future of Ritz-Carlton” said General Colin Powell.

In every city where there is a hotel, the Community Footprints “Succeed Through Service” project has adopted schools and worked with students to coach, mentor and motivate. In recognition of these outstanding efforts by hotels nationwide, The Ritz-Carlton was the only hospitality company invited by The White House to sign the Corporate Mentoring Challenge Pledge announced by Mrs. Obama during a recent address at the Library of Congress and be a part of the initiative’s Inaugural Business Group.

The concept is straightforward. Over the course of a year, the children visit their partner Ritz-Carlton to enjoy presentations by different members of staff designed to reveal the career benefits of continuing education. Secondly, the students take part in life-skills training modules – such as social skills and etiquette, presentation skills and lessons on the importance of safe food handling and healthy eating - that are aimed at boosting self-confidence and knowledge.

“We are very proud to join in the effort to share our knowledge and experience with the students at Charles Hart Middle School and other schools we are partnering with around the world. Many of us worked our way up from the bottom for many years before achieving success in our chosen fields. Motivating these youngsters to prepare now by good student habits, staying in school, keeping out of trouble, and having goals is what we hope to accomplish,” said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The day, officially titled, “Grow Your Future “Start Planting the Seeds Now,” is under the direction of Corporate Vice President, Community Footprints, Sue Stephenson. Charles Hart Middle School is located at 601 Mississippi Ave, SE and the afternoon’s trade and career day will be held from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm.