NORWALK, CT (May 1, 2006) Robin Tauck and Arthur Tauck, Jr. of Norwalk, CT-based Tauck World Discovery were presented with the Preserve America Presidential Award by President George Bush in Washington, DC today. The award, for Tauck’s guest-volunteer program at Yellowstone National Park, was presented by the President and the First Lady in the Oval Office and highlighted during a ceremony held immediately afterward in the White House Rose Garden.

The Presidential Award is the nation’s highest honor for historical preservation, and it recognizes “exemplary accomplishments in the sustainable use and preservation of cultural or natural heritage assets.” Preserve America is a White House initiative in cooperation with various government agencies including the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the President's Council on Environmental Quality.

In presenting the award to Tauck, President Bush praised the positive effects of the Yellowstone program. “By their good work, the good people at Tauck are inspiring Americans to lend a hand in preservation,” said Bush, “and making sure that Yellowstone is a natural wonder for the years to come.”

“We are thrilled and humbled to be honored with the Presidential Award,” said Robin Tauck, President/CEO of Tauck World Discovery. “We’re committed to supporting the Parks through our guest volunteer program, through employee volunteer events, and through grants. Giving back truly is its own reward, and receiving the Presidential Award is the icing on the cake.”

Although Tauck World Discovery offers over 100 trips to 60 countries and all seven continents, its trips to the U.S. National Parks still hold special meaning for the company. “My grandfather first brought guests to the National Parks in 1926,” said Tauck, “so the Parks have been a large part of our success for 80 years. We can’t think of a more fulfilling way to mark that anniversary than with this wonderful award.”

ON THE LIST OF “AMERICA’S 100 BEST”

The Presidential Award is the second honor bestowed on Tauck’s Yellowstone volunteer program this month. The May issue of Reader’s Digest magazine features the Tauck program in its third-annual list of “America’s 100 Best.” According to the magazine, the list is a diverse collection celebrating inspiring stories, brilliant ideas, heroic acts, and more. Reaching approximately 80 million readers each month, Reader's Digest is the world’s largest paid-circulation magazine. It is published in 20 languages and 50 editions worldwide.

"Our country is full of hidden treasures, creative products and inspiring stories,” said Reader’s Digest Senior Staff Editor Maureen Mackey. “The Tauck Yellowstone Program attracted our attention because of the innovative way it combines family leisure time with citizen volunteerism. How amazing is it to help restore a public park while you're on vacation? You're doing good while having fun – and you're passing the positive experience on to new generations."

OVER 5,000 VOLUNTEERS DONATE NEARLY 10,000 HOURS OF SERVICE

Tauck is the world’s premier escorted tour operator, offering more than 100 land journeys, ocean cruises, river cruises and safaris in 60 different countries. Each year the company brings thousands of travelers to Yellowstone National Park, where it offers them the opportunity to donate a small portion of their time in the Park to various preservation projects. Tauck helps organize the volunteer projects, underwrites the salary of a full-time, seasonal Program Coordinator, and pays for all program-related tools and supplies.

To date, more than 5,000 Tauck guest-volunteers have donated nearly 10,000 hours of labor valued at well over $150,000 by the National Park Service. The Tauck program has also been honored by the United States Interior Department with its “Take Pride in America” award, and by the Travel Industry Association of America with its “Odyssey Award.”

Tauck World Discovery was founded as Tauck Tours in 1925 by Arthur Tauck, Sr. His son Arthur Tauck, Jr. is the company’s Chairman and former President, and his granddaughter Robin Tauck is President/CEO. Tauck World Discovery has won more than 50 awards over the years, including being named the “World’s Best Safari Outfitter & Tour Operator” three times by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine.