LivingSocial Members to Help Rebuild New Orleans During Unique Volunteer Vacation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Feeling the need to spend their vacations doing more than sunbathing and snorkeling, Americans from coast-to-coast are increasingly using their vacation time to volunteer both domestically and abroad.  And thanks to LivingSocial Escapes, booking a volunteer vacation just got a whole lot easier.  

Known for providing affordable, accessible "vacations-in-a-box", LivingSocial Escapes announced today its first fully curated volunteer vacation to New Orleans.  Beginning today, members can purchase the two night, two day Escape to New Orleans where they will experience the rewards of building with Habitat for Humanity and enjoy an evening on historic Bourbon Street.

"Volunteer vacations are a great way for travelers to transcend the boundaries of traditional vacations, truly experience the culture and get to know the people of an area they are visiting, while experiencing the enriching benefits of volunteering," said Doug Miller, Vice President of LivingSocial Escapes.  "We're excited to work with Habitat for Humanity and bring our members the opportunity to do good, give back and get a little more from their free time."

Six years have passed since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city of New Orleans, but recovery efforts continue and the need for volunteers remains.

Jim Pate, Executive Director, New Orleans Habitat For Humanity, added:  "We are thrilled to partner with LivingSocial Escapes and be the beneficiary of their first foray into voluntourism.  We hope to tap into LivingSocial's millions of members and continue the rebuilding efforts on the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and beyond."  

Surveys by the Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently show that the most common reason consumers are not volunteering is not a lack of desire, but a lack of time.  LivingSocial Escapes' Volunteer Vacation allows members to vacation to one of the most iconic cities in the world and return home with a newfound perspective of The Big Easy, its culture and its people.  

To learn more or to purchase your volunteer vacation, visit www.LivingSocial.com/escapes.  For additional information on LivingSocial Escapes, visit the official LivingSocial Escapes Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LivingSocialEscapes.

About LivingSocial

LivingSocial helps people around the world find, share and enjoy great local deals and new experiences. We'll help you get more out of your city. Through its daily deal e-mails and alerts, LivingSocial introduces members to handpicked local businesses, products or services each day at savings of 50 percent or more. With a range of products for different interests, like Families and Adventures, LivingSocial helps delight members with the perfect deal for them. Other services include LivingSocial Escapes, which features easy "vacations in a box" to leading destinations, and LivingSocial Instant, which helps members discover real-time discounts at nearby restaurants, stores and businesses. LivingSocial works with each merchant partner to create customized marketing solutions that attract and retain loyal, long-term customers. Based in Washington, D.C., LivingSocial now has more than 42 million members in 25 countries.

SOURCE LivingSocial