Grammy-nominated musician, philanthropist, Ethiopian-born American musician and “actionist” Kenna has masterminded an expedition to climb Tanzania’s Mt. Kilimanjaro with friends, Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, grand-daughter of famous explorer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, Elizabeth Gore, Global Partnerships Director for the United Nations Foundation, and Kick Kennedy, an environmental activist, granddaughter of Robert Kennedy.
The climb is meant to raise awareness of the global clean water crisis and raise funds.
Beneficiaries of the funds will go to:
1. The Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program
2. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
3. PlayPumps International
The Group will be outfitted with high-powered HP PCs from corporate sponsor Hewitt Packard to help track each climber’s progress, monitor weather conditions, and capture every aspect of the ascent. Throughout the climb, the team will use HP thin-and-light notebooks to communicate and share photos as well as videos from Mt. Kilimanjaro with fans on www.summitonthesummit.com, which will fully launch next month.
To help bring clean water to the developing world, PŪR created the PŪR sachet that can transform ten liters of dirty, disease-ridden water, into clean, clear drinking water in 30minutes. PŪR has also developed filtration solutions which help to provide high quality drinking water at home through PŪR’s line of faucet mount, pitcher and refrigerator filtration systems. www.purwater.com
The expedition team will be completely outfitted in First Ascent by Eddie Bauer with everything from baselayer, insulation and outer shells, to backpacks, duffels, tents and accessories to safely and successfully summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. www.firstascent.com
“My father suffered for over 10 years of his life with water-borne diseases while his friends and family died around him. It’s over 60 years later and we are living in a world where over a billion people are without clean and safe drinking water. It is unacceptable. My friends and I are taking a risk climbing Kili to stand at one of the highest points in the world and make the statement that we as human beings can stop the Global Clean Water Crisis if we take action now. Help us send water and save lives,” says Kenna, an Ethiopian-born American musician.
