ABM HONORS GRAND LITTLEFORD WINNER MICATO SAFARISs.sheadelA202007-04-18T20:03:00Z2007-04-18T20:03:00Z13532014 164236311.8125ABM HONORS GRAND LITTLEFORD WINNER MICATO SAFARISNEW YORK, August 16, 2005 - ABM honored Grand Littleford recipient Micato Safaris (nominated by Northstar's Travel Weekly) today, August 16th, during the William D. Littleford Awards for Corporate Community Service. A family-run operator of luxury tours specializing in African Safaris, Micato Safaris will be recognized for the creation of America Share, a non-profit foundation assisting in the education and housing of young Africans devastated by the AIDS pandemic.   Through a School Sponsorship Program, Micato staff, clients, and industry friends "adopt" orphans and place them into reputable boarding schools near Nairobi, Kenya.  Just over 100 orphans have been sponsored so far, the first 12 of whom graduated last year.  Of those 12, six desired to go on to technical school, and Micato has picked up the cost for their continuing education.Sponsored orphans live in boarding schools during the school year, but in an effort to provide a home for them during their school holidays, Micato began construction in 2004 on a permanent base for these children entitled "Harambee House," taken from the Swahili word meaning "all pull together."  Scheduled for completion by January 2006, Harambee House, will be used as a community center for HIV-positive women during the months when the children are away at school.Micato has also reached out to its clients and industry friends through the "Lend a Helping Hand on Safari" program.  Each guest on a tour is invited to add an extra day to their trip, at Micato's expense, to help build Harambee House or visit an orphanage or school and personally deliver gifts.  So far, more than 2,000 children have received clothing, medicine, school supplies and other essential goods.  The William D. Littleford Awards for Corporate Community Service were named after and established by the chairman emeritus of BPI Communications Inc. to recognize companies, organizations, or individuals that are involved in active community service programs aimed at alleviating critical social problems. The celebration was held at the Four Seasons, 99 East 52nd Street, New York 10022.