We believe that to whom much is given, much is required. In 1998 the Shepard Foundation began with the specific mission to provide an opportunity for both the company and our associates to make such contributions to a worthwhile cause. The primary beneficiary organization of the Shepard Foundation, Give Kids the World, was selected based on the history, values, and visions of the group.

Give Kids the World is a non-profit organization that allows children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to visit Central Florida's best-loved attractions. Founded in 1986, Henri Landwirth a Hotel General Manager first conceived of the idea of granting the Florida vacation wishes to terminally ill children. Since then, Give Kids the World has grown to include Give Kids the World Village, a 51-acre, 96-villa resort in Orlando exclusively for complimentary use by the visiting families. The organization has hosted more than 50,000 families from all 50 states and more than 47 countries. If you wish to learn more about the Give Kids the World organization, visit the web site at www.gktw.org.

As a company, Shepard is committed to annual giving to Give Kids the World on behalf of our customers and a corporate contribution on behalf of our associates. Creating an easy medium for giving, each member of the Shepard team is given the opportunity to participate additionally through tax-deductible donations to the Shepard Foundation.