Three Rivers collects soap for recycling program | Business

Three Rivers Casino & Hotel COO Mike Rose was shocked that an estimated 5 million children die each year worldwide from a lack of access to soap.

The casino now contributes to Clean the World, a program that collects gently used soap, shampoo and other bottled amenities from participating hotels and distributes them, along with educational material, to impoverished countries and domestic homeless shelters.

“For myself, and many others in the hospitality industry, this is bigger than just a recycling program. It’s an opportunity to save lives,” Rose said.

He was speaking on the occasion of receiving the hotel’s first “report card” for their quarterly contribution. For the 2nd quarter of 2011 Three Rivers’ contributions amounted to 379 distributed bars of soap.

“This program has really resonated throughout our hotel--especially among our employees who have children,” said Rose. Three Rivers is one of only nine hotels in Oregon currently in the program. Over 1,000 hotels worldwide are participating and the number is growing rapidly.

At the hotel level, the task of collecting the soap and shampoo falls to the housekeeping department, which Rose singled out for their efforts and cooperation. “This is one of the hardest-working departments in the hotel and they have willingly taken the extra step to help children around the world.”