We were introduced to Victor a couple years ago. Eleven at the time, his picture arrived in a beautiful package with a gold seal. He was sporting a perfect smile, wearing a crisp white shirt and striped tie. Every time I think about Victor, I think about his smile.

Victor is an AmericaShare child, one of the lucky ones. Through Micato Safaris America Share program, my family sponsors Victor so he can attend school. AmericaShare helps orphaned and vulnerable children get a quality education.

My kids rifled through the envelope to read more about where Victor lived. His background stated he was a single orphan living in Mukuru, a slum outside Nairobi, Kenya. We looked up Mukuru online. The images were horrific and inhumane. My youngest son asked me why Victor was smiling if he lived in a slum. I told him Victor was happy because he now goes to school. It was the best response I could offer at the time.

We write to Victor every few months. My boys include photos, stickers and share news about their busy lives. Their favorite topic is soccer. After a few letters back and forth, it was obvious they all spoke the international language of sports.

I’ve been fortunate to work with Micato and share amazing safari experiences in the meetings and incentive industry. But if you ask anyone in the company what they love about Africa, they won’t tell you it's the sunsets, or open plains with game teaming about. Though I have witnessed such sights in Africa, and they are beyond breathtaking. Anyone from Micato will tell you it’s difference they make in the children’s lives. And anyone who has ever been on a Micato safari will tell you the same.

My blog isn’t long enough to include Micato’s many accomplishments and accolades, but I hope you take a moment to check out AmericaShare and Micato’s One for One Commitment.

Now that's something to smile about! 

I think your first blog is like your first tweet; you spend a lot of time pondering what to say when the only thing that matters is you're saying it.

Though it's easy to be impressed by the allure of travel, it has become almost fashionable in the incentive and meetings industry to be socially responsible. We're all touting our commitment to responsible travel and ecotourism. Guilty as charged.

I recently heard someone mention public relations and social responsibility in the same sentence. So what did I do? I Googled it like any seasoned, travel industry professional would do. Here's a sampling of what I found:  

Our Corporate Social Responsibility programs connect your brand and your bottom line through tailored strategies that link social needs with corporate resources.

CSR issues, if managed well, can be opportunities for a company to build its reputation and differentiate itself. Our eight-step program assesses a company's CSR strengths and weaknesses and develops a plan to enhance reputation.

I had to stop at the eight-step program. The magic is gone.

Regardless of whether or not it's all the rage, it's a good thing. I shouldn't be concerned if my competitors are socially responsible. I don't care if PR Companies are now selling the "CSR Strategy". "We're All In This Together," sang Troy & Gabriella.

I know exactly how I arrived to this point. All I have to do is scroll through the pages of my website and I can tell you story after story of how these companies brought meaning to our client's experiences as they introduced us to a world outside our own. Many of these DMCs were giving back and protecting their communities before it was as conventional as it is now.

But who's keeping score. You can't rank inspiration. But you can pay it forward. You don't have to spend a lot of time showing the world you're giving back. The only thing that matters is you're doing it.