HX Hurtigruten Expeditions has formally introduced its charitable arm.
The initiative builds on the success of the Hurtigruten Foundation, which has supported more than 200 projects in 25 countries and has awarded €1.27 million since its inception in 2015.
The HX Foundation is focused solely on the areas where HX’s expedition ships sail, from the Arctic and Alaska to the UK, Galapagos Islands and Antarctica.
The HX Foundation is calling for coastal communities and charities to apply for grants ahead of a November 1 deadline.
he fund enables HX ships to immediately donate up to €1,000 to local community initiatives in urgent need of support at a grassroots level.
This marks the Foundation’s second round of grants for 2024, with “significant funding” available for projects aligned with its mission.
The evolution of the Foundation signifies HX’s commitment to the 250-plus destinations it explores globally, according to the company.
The HX Foundation will continue its biannual grant distribution, with the most recent cycle awarding a record-breaking sum to innovative projects ranging from wildlife preservation to sustainable tourism initiatives.
It granted more than €370,000 in May to organisations in Canada, Cape Verde, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Senegal, Falklands Islands, Antarctica, Norway, Svalbard, Iceland, the UK, US and the Philippines.
HX Foundation managing director Henrik Lund said: “We are delighted to formally introduce the HX Foundation.
“This new phase allows us to sharpen our focus on the coastal communities HX visits, ensuring that we better support their unique needs while continuing to battle issues like plastic waste and wildlife conservation.
“Our goal is to have a lasting, measurable impact everywhere our ships and guests travel, and we are excited to welcome new grant applications from around the world.”