PHOENIX (Feb. 20, 2008) – The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America has chosen Matt Ouimet, President, Hotel Group for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, to its board of directors.

Ouimet joins the governing board of the world’s largest wish-granting charity to provide leadership, strategic planning and outreach for its wish-granting activities. Before joining Starwood, Ouimet worked closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation during his 17 years with The Walt Disney Company, one of the Foundation’s most prominent corporate supporters.

“Matt is very familiar with the Foundation and its mission to bring hope, strength and joy to seriously ill children and their families,” said David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer. “He has the background and skills to be a true asset to the board of directors. Matt’s contributions will certainly help the Foundation enhance its efforts to grant magical, unforgettable wishes for the courageous kids we serve.”

Joining Starwood in 2006, Ouimet oversees hotel operations worldwide for the company's more than 900 hotels in 95 countries flying Starwood’s nine renowned brand flags, including Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels and St. Regis.

At Disney, Ouimet was recognized for assembling talented teams that generated successful business results and benchmark levels of guest satisfaction. He played a key role in the development of Walt Disney World during the 1990s, led the Disney Vacation Club and the Disney Cruise Line, and most recently served as president of the Disneyland Resort during its 50th anniversary.

Ouimet earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Binghamton. His previously served as the vice chairman of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County in Orange, Calif., as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the University of California, Irvine, and as chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Ouimet and his family live in Connecticut.

About the Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring volunteers helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the United States since inception. For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wish.org and discover how you can share the power of a wish^® .