Around-the-World Run to Raise Funds for Clean Water

Around-the-World Run to Raise Funds for Clean Water
July 28, 2006

Jin Zidell, founder of The Blue Planet Run Foundation, announced the Dow Chemical Co.’s sponsorship of the foundation’s 2007 Blue Planet Run before an audience of dignitaries at the UN. The Foundation’s inaugural event, the 2007 Blue Planet Run, will begin June 2, 2007, in New York City and will raise awareness of, and funds for, clean water challenges that affect more than 1.2 billion people worldwide.

“The lack of access to safe drinking water is a harsh reality that faces nearly 20% of the world’s population,” explained Zidell in his remarks. “However, solutions exist that are affordable, achievable and sustainable. The 2007 Run will be a clarion call to the world to respond to this challenge.”

He continued, “The partnership with Dow will allow the foundation to expand the public’s knowledge of the problem, and increase funds generated for implementing solutions.”

For the 2007 Run, 18 runners will run in a relay format around the world, traveling more than 12,000 miles in less than 100 days. Produced by Atlanta-based ignition, Inc., a worldwide expert in global marketing event management, the 2007 Run will visit 16 countries, including Ireland, Great Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Mongolia, China, Japan, Canada and the U.S.

Mark Malloch Brown, deputy secretary general of the UN, opened the luncheon program with remarks highlighting the need for long-term focus on sustainability issues, especially while the global focus is on present day crises.

Andrew Liveris, president, CEO and chairman of the Dow Chemical Co., echoed the commitment to providing sustainable solutions in his remarks: “Providing sustainable clean drinking water is one of the defining global issues of our day.”

The company’s partnership with the foundation is a cornerstone of Dow’s 2015 Sustainability Goals.

Source: ignition, Inc. July 28, 2006