Mumbai: The Marriott India has collaborated with Child Rights and You – CRY that enables guests staying at any of the Marriott properties across India to choose to add Rs. 100 to their bill as a contribution to CRY. A total of Rs 27 lakhs have been contributed by guests, aptly enabled by the Marriott Group. Actor Sikandar Kher was the celebrity partner for the event.

Kher said, "I believe that ordinary people like you and me are the real heroes, and our small acts is what can make India a true leader in every sense. Congratulations to Marriott for standing up for children’s rights, and to CRY for involving people in the efforts to ensure that the basic advantages of development reach out to those who are left out of India’s development."

The contribution to CRY has been used to make sure children in the 2500 villages and slums that CRY and its partners works in, have full access to all basic rights such as schools, health facilities and gainful employment for adults.

CRY regional director Irwin Fernandes said, "In the last year alone, CRY’s work touched the lives of nearly five lakh children across India. Along with our NGO partners and the people of 2500 villages and slums across India, the government’s services, such as schools, health centres, and employment schemes were activated. This gave India’s most marginalized children the opportunities that should be available for all children to live, learn and grow. This kind of work is made possible with support from partners such as the Mariott Group."

Marriott Business Council chairman Guy Godet said, "CRY needs no introduction; it was our first choice to join hands with them when we were looking out for our Spirit To Serve partner. Active and passionate about ensuring the rights of children, CRY and Marriott together have initiated as well as created an awareness on issues concerning child rights."