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Running the Sahara Announces Charitable Effort: H2O Africa,
Los Angeles, September 10 - Running the Sahara, the upcoming expedition and documentary film wherein three international ultra-marathoners will attempt to become the first humans to run the entire distance across Africa's Sahara Desert, has unveiled its charitable component: H2O Africa, a clean water initiative (www.h2oafrica.org). Campaign To Raise Funding for Clean Water Programs In Africa H2O Africa Launches at One X One Event at Toronto Film Festival; Event Raises over $3 Million for H2O Africa and 6 other Charities to Benefit Children Jointly developed by Independent Producer's Alliance and Matt Damon's production company called LivePlanet, Running the Sahara and H2O Africa is an unprecedented effort to use film to advance a charitable purpose. Helixx helped to coordinate the funding for the project, and Paul Brooks will serve as H20 Africa Chairman. Individuals may make donations through the Running the Sahara website: www.runningthesahara.com. H2O Africa will create widespread public awareness of the water crisis in Africa and gather support and funding for clean water programs in critical areas. In an address announcing H2O Africa at the One X One event at the Toronto Film festival on September 10 2006, Executive Producer Matt Damon said: "Running the Sahara is more than just a chance to make a film. I recently went to Africa with One and saw first-hand the effects of one of the largest public health issues of our time - the world water crisis which is at its worst in Africa. I also saw the hope in the people there when they have access to clean water that can save millions of lives. And its impact goes beyond that. Clean water is also a critical component to rebuilding shattered economies. Imagine the profound effect a well can have on the lives and dreams of all the people who have access to it - clean water can put the entire communities onto that first rung of the development ladder. H2O Africa will focus specifically on raising funds to support and execute clean water programs in Africa." The money raised by H2O Africa will fund activities of leading charitable organizations and NGO's that have experience and current programs on the ground in Africa. As the Running the Sahara Expedition crosses Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt, it will identify key areas of need for clean water programs and H2O Africa will turn to its group of charitable partners to address those areas of need. A key advisor to H2O Africa in the selection of charitable partners is the ONE Campaign. Oversight of H2O Africa programs and initiatives will mainly come through progress-based grant agreements. "H2O Africa will focus on the development of sustainable, integrated water programs," said Paul Brooks, Chairman of H2O Africa. "We are targeting initiatives that will affect positive change for the long run and complement other activity in the region, such as education and infrastructure development-for example, a water purification system at a school, which provides clean water for children and encourages parents to bring their kids to school." Charitable contributions are Tax Deductible for citizens of the United States of America and Canada, and in many cases for International donors from nations that have an income tax treaty with the U.S.A. (A list of countries with which the U.S.A. has a treaty and an explanation of how that treaty applies is available from the IRS.) The Running the Sahara Expedition is sponsored by Magellan Navigation whose GPS technology will be critical to the Expedition's navigation of the best route through the Sahara Desert. The Running the Sahara Expedition will be the subject of a documentary film, also titled Running the Sahara. Directed by Academy Award Winner James Moll and Narrated and Executive Produced by Academy Award Winner Matt Damon, the film will be an up-close character-driven documentary that delves deep into the culture of the Sahara through the eyes of three individuals undergoing a life-altering experience of an unprecedented crossing of six countries that span the Sahara from West to East: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya and Egypt. Running the Sahara and H2O Africa mark the launch of a unique collaboration between the recently announced Independent Producers Alliance, Masque Entertainment and LivePlanet, the production company that Damon co-founded. Production support is being provided by Life(n) Media and Prelude Pictures. Charitable fund services are being provided by Renaissance and Stanford Financial Group, which is also a lead investor in the film venture. "Stanford is committed to strengthening communities and partnering with those organizations that are truly making a difference in people's lives," said Suzanne Hamm of Stanford Foundation. "This initiative is unique, and fundamentally important to improving the quality of life in this region. We're delighted to be a part of this."
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05 January 2009
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