Hilton celebrates its 100th birthday with the creation of the new Hilton Effect Foundation.

The Foundation launched earlier in the month with 15 grants to organizations to support communities around the world with youth opportunities, disaster recovery and water sustainability. The Foundation is part of the Hilton Travel with Purpose strategy, which aims to double Hilton’s investment in social impact. Since its 2011 launch, Travel with Purpose provided more than 1.3 million hours of volunteer service and millions of dollars invested in communities.

“One hundred years ago, Conrad Hilton had a noble idea that travel can make the world a better place,” said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton. “That deep-rooted sense of purpose has fueled our transformative impact all across the globe, as we have welcomed 3 billion guests, employed 10 million Team Members and contributed $1 trillion in economic impact. And in the years to come, we will do even more to positively change the world through our Hilton Effect Foundation.”

“Our first century of hospitality has been tremendously meaningful, but I truly believe that now is our time,” said Nassetta. “Hilton is as strong as it has ever been, and our potential to positively change the world grows with each hotel we open and every guest we serve.

“Our 100th year of hospitality is an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and put a stake in the ground for our future. Conrad Hilton charted an ambitious course for Hilton in 1919, and I think he’d be proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. In my view, the world’s a better place because Hilton was born one hundred years ago, and if we do our job right, the world will be a better place because Hilton’s in it for the next one hundred years.”