FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 

Contact:   Stacey Sutherland

Phone: 407-905-1914

E-mail: ssutherland@orangelake.com

orangelake.com

Orange Lake Resort & Country Club Hosts U.S. Daily Point of Light Award Presentation for The Regal Swan®

ORLANDO, FLORIDA—January 23, 2006—The Regal Swan®, a swan research organization dedicated to the humane treatment and veterinary medical care of captive swans, was awarded the prestigious U.S. Daily Point of Light award, # 3072, by the U.S. Points of Light Foundation at a ceremony held on January 18 at Orange Lake Resort & Country Club.   Orange Lake serves as one of The Regal Swan's primary research hubs and is the home to six captive mute swans.

The Daily Point of Light Award honors individuals and volunteer groups that have made a commitment to connect Americans through service to help critical needs in their communities. The 26-member Regal Swan team, comprised of veterinarians, swan keepers, educators, photographers, writers and other professionals, was honored for its contribution to education. Regal Swan researchers received the award at a presentation ceremony at Orange Lake coordinated by Lindsey Turner, Heart of Florida United Way Volunteer Center manager, on behalf of the national foundation.

Special guests attending the presentation included: Orange Lake's CEO and President, Don Harrill; Howard C. Nusbaum, president of the American Resort & Development Association, (ARDA); Tim Williams representing Gatorland, a popular Central Florida tourist attraction also committed to important wildlife-research initiatives; and Sally Graziano, a Regal Swan team member from the Orlando Science Center.

Orange Lake is home to thousands of native Florida species, including many that are protected and endangered.   In addition to supporting the research and education efforts of The Regal Swan team, Orange Lake's commitment to wildlife protection, appreciation and education has expanded to include several new wildlife programs for owners and guests to enjoy during their vacation at Orange Lake:    

• The weekly Gatorland Alligator Show provides owners and guests the opportunity to come face-to-face with these true Florida natives.   Since June, more than 5,000 Orange Lake owners and guests have attended the weekly show. Hosted by Orange Lake wildlife team members and Gatorland professionals, this program informs and entertains guests while giving them an opportunity to touch live gators and other species.

• Guided nature walks hosted by Orange Lake's resident wildlife experts provide guests the opportunity to trek through real Florida wetlands for a look at Orange Lake's ecosystem and the solitary beauty of Florida nature.

• Orange Lake's FOWL (Focus On Wild Life) phone hotline provides an information resource for guests and employees to learn more about wildlife and the various programs offered at the resort.

• Swampy, the resort's wildlife ambassador, can regularly been seen around the resort greeting children and handing out wildlife education cards.  

Orange Lake Resort & Country Club is the world's largest single-site timeshare resort, with more than 2,000 villa, suite and studio accommodations.   Founded in 1982 by Kemmons Wilson, the legendary business entrepreneur who built the successful Holiday Inn â hotel chain, the resort encompasses more than 1,250 acres of pristine surroundings with an enviable location just four miles west of Walt Disney World® in the heart of Orlando's world-famous theme parks and attractions, and is the vacation “home-away-from-home” to more than 100,000 owners from all 50 U.S. states and more than 120 countries.

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