March 10, 2010

Melissa Etheridge and Rob Thomas to participate in the Dow Live Earth Run for Water

Live Earth, organizer of the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, Pacific Sports, race director for the Los Angeles event, and Atlanta Track Club, race director for the Atlanta event, today announced that two-time GRAMMY Award-winner and one-time Academy Award winner for Best Song for the Al Gore documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” Melissa Etheridge, and multi-platinum three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Rob Thomas, will perform live at the Los Angeles and Atlanta events, respectively. The largest worldwide water initiative on record to help combat the global water crisis, the Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a series of 6km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to get water), culminating with water education villages and live musical performances.

“I’m a long-time environmental advocate and believe strongly that it is our duty as a society and as individuals to preserve our planet and its resources,” said Melissa Etheridge. “I want to lend my name and time to this event because the global water crisis is an environmental issue that affects nearly one billion people on the planet and through this event we can raise awareness and money to help address it.”

“I am thrilled to be participating in this important event to bring clean, safe drinking water to the women and children around the world walking 6km every day to sustain their families,” said Rob Thomas. “I encourage the Atlanta community to come out on April 18th because together we can make a difference in the lives of so many.”

The events will take place in nearly 100 cities across 50 countries around the world on April 18, 2010, to raise awareness and funds to help solve the global water crisis. Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo, Alexandra Cousteau, and Jenny Fletcher have already been announced to support events on April 18th. Additional artists announcement for events taking place in Chicago, Minneapolis, and New York coming soon.

Funds raised from the events will benefit Global Water Challenge, a coalition of non profit organizations working to bring clean, safe drinking water to millions of people worldwide. This includes innovative projects that provide clean drinking water to communities in Haiti, Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. GWC has invested in previous projects with donations going towards improving access to water in schools and supporting local entrepreneurs who provide market-based solutions. Beginning today, Live Earth will donate $1 for each U.S. registration received between now and March 23 for a special Haiti relief fund through GWC coalition partners CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Population Services, and UNICEF to implement safe drinking water programs on the ground in Haiti. People interested in supporting the Haiti relief fund should register for a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk event in the U.S. before March 23 via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run, using promotional code HAITI.

“The money raised from these events will help thousands of people in the developing world get access to clean drinking water. We look forward to investing these funds and impacting lives.” said Paul Faeth, President of Global Water Challenge.

The Los Angeles Dow Live Earth Run for Water event will be held in Exposition Park, near downtown Los Angeles, with the 6km course starting on Exposition Park Drive, turning onto Figueroa and traveling three kilometers toward downtown, turning around at 17th Street for the return three kilometers, and ending in the Water Village in Expo Park. Starting time for the run is 8:30 a.m.

“Pacific Sports produces major sporting events all over the country year-round, but we’re especially excited to be overseeing the Dow Live Earth Run for Water events in Los Angeles and New York as part of this massive global movement to help solve the global water crisis,” said Jack Caress, New York and LA event producer. “We’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that both events are fun, educational and entertaining, so we encourage runners and walkers of all levels to sign up today!”

Atlanta's Dow Live Earth Run for Water event will take place in downtown Atlanta with the start/finish at the Water Village area located at Pemberton Place, adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and the Georgia Aquarium. The 6km course will take participants through nearby neighborhoods. The Dow Live Earth Run for Water will start at 8:45 a.m. with the Rob Thomas performance following the run/walk. Thomas will perform songs from his acclaimed current album, cradlesong which includes the chart topping singles “Someday” and “Her Diamonds”.

“As the premier running organization in Atlanta, the Atlanta Track Club is excited to help organize this run/walk to drive awareness of both the global and regional water crisis,” said Tracey Russell, Executive Director of the Atlanta Track Club.

People in Atlanta can register for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk today via The Active Network at http://liveearth.org/run. All participants will receive a free online ActiveTrainer plan to help them prepare for the event. A portion of all registration fees for the events will go directly to Global Water Challenge. Additionally, a portion of fees from the Atlanta event will go directly to Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper.

“This event will raise awareness about the threats the Chattahoochee faces as well as helping to fund UCR’s work in the field, patrolling the river system, monitoring water quality, educating our community, and more,” said Sally Bethea, Executive Director and Riverkeeper for UCR.

Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is dedicated solely to protecting and restoring the Chattahoochee River Basin – the drinking water source for 3.5 million people. Established in 1994, UCR works to advocate and secure the preservation and stewardship of the Chatahoochee River, its tributaries and watershed, for the people, fish and wildlife that depend on the river system. The Chattahoochee is considered the most used water resource in Georgia, and is one of the most threatened rivers in the United States.

“Live Earth is honoured to have Melissa Etheridge and Rob Thomas as part of this global movement to help raise awareness for the global water crisis,” said Kevin Wall, Founder of Live Earth. “Through the commitment of these artists, we are able to connect with a wider audience on this important issue and ultimately encourage them to participate in this movement to bring clean, safe, drinking water to the nearly one billion people on this planet in need.”

The Dow Live Earth Run for Water is a global movement focused on the actions individuals can take to effectively address the issue. People are encouraged to START solving the problem today, RUN in a Dow Live Earth Run for Water run/walk in their community or organize their own run/walk through the Friends of Live Earth program, SAVE water in their home and local community through conservation efforts, GIVE money to support clean, safe water projects and SPEAK UP by signing the Live Earth petition to add water as a basic human right to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.

“As the title sponsor for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, Dow is committed to bringing the science, technology and “human element” it will take to help solve one of the world’s greatest challenges – the global water crisis,” said Ian Barbour, general manager at Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of Dow. “On April 18, 2010, Dow’s 52,000 employees will join people from around the world to help millions of people around the world gain access to safe, clean drinking water.”

People in the U.S. can enter a sweepstakes to win a free trip to the Los Angeles or New York event by setting up a fundraising page or making a direct donation in any amount to Global Water Challenge. On April 9, one winner will be randomly selected to receive free roundtrip airfare for two and a two-night hotel stay in either Los Angeles or New York, based on closest proximity. For more information about the Live Earth sweepstakes, please visit at http://liveearth.org/contest.

For more information about the Dow Live Earth Run for Water visit www.liveearth.org, and to participate in the Los Angeles event, please visit www.livearth.org/run.