BOSTON, Mass. -- Bruce Beckham, who co-founded Tourism Cares seven years ago and led its development into the tourism industrys leading charitable organization, has announced hes retiring as executive director and CEO effective June 30.

Beckham will work with the Tourism Cares executive committee and board to recruit and transition to a new director.

Tourism Cares was formed by Beckham and others in 2005 via the merger of the National Tourism Foundation, founded by the National Tour Association in 1982, and the Travelers Conservation Foundation, founded in 1999 by the United States Tour Operators Association.

Its an independent, industry-wide nonprofit that "gives back" through volunteer restoration projects at tourism sites needing care and rejuvenation, grants to cultural sites, and scholarships and other programs for tourism students.

Under Beckhams guidance and through his ability to foster partnerships and bring facets of the industry together, Tourism Cares has thrived and is now the official philanthropy of some of the travel industrys best-known groups -- USTOA, NTA, ASTA, RSAA and IATAN.

Over the years, more than 3,500 tourism industry volunteers have traveled at their own expense -- to more than 20 sites across the U.S. for restoration projects.

In addition, more than $500,000 in scholarships have been awarded to students studying travel and tourism, and more than $2 million in grants have been given to tourism-related sites in 42 states and 31 countries.

Tourism Cares also created the industrys first global outreach educational and preservation program in Cusco, Peru, in partnership with the tourism industry there.

Dan Sullivan, president of Collette Vacations and chairman of Tourism Cares, said: "Bruces leadership has mobilized the travel industry to recognize the need for conservation and preservation of our treasured sites and the education of our future workforce.

"In particular, the restoration projects he and his dynamic team have organized, starting at Ellis Island in 2003 and continuing across the country over the last 10 years, have broadened the organizations support throughout the entire industry. We have big shoes to fill."

Arthur C. Tauck Jr., chairman of Tauck Inc., and chairman emeritus and a co-founder of Tourism Cares, said Beckham had worked "tirelessly to take an idea from its embryonic stage and develop it into an organization that has become synonymous with philanthropy across the travel industry."