Media Inquiries
Please contact us if you're interested in running an article or
news clip
On River:
Kevin Lilly 770-401-6410 klilly@whataboutblue.com
Danielle Katz 213-220-3686 riverkatz@earthlink.net
Brian Coggan 415-367-5658 cogganbd@gmail.com
Media contacts:
Missy Hurley 813.230.7736 mhurley.pr@gmail.com
Jesse Landis 813.846.3167 jlandispr@yahoo.com
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2009 ‘WhatAboutBlue’ kicks-off to change thinking about water
Three 20-somethings kayak the Mississippi River to raise awareness and funds ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (July 1, 2009) --
This summer, WhatAboutBlue launches with three adventurers paddling the Mississippi River over a four-month period to kick-off a campaign to change thinking about water. WhatAboutBlue, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, originated with a small Florida-based group of activists seeking to draw attention to issues related to water, determining that, while water certainly is part of the green movement, it wasn’t necessarily getting fair representation. ‘Green’ conjures images of trees, plants and grass, and water is sometimes left behind as an afterthought. WhatAboutBlue does not intend to detract anything from the green movement. Indeed, it wholeheartedly endorses the green movement – but it seeks to join the conversation by asking the question, what about ‘Blue’? The organization encourages people to think differently about water. WhatAboutBlue director Kevin Lilly explains, “We’re used to turning on the faucet, and water’s just always there, a seemingly infinite amount, pouring out and going down the drain. WhatAboutBlue wants to enhance the ‘brand’ of water, the knowledge and the connotations, to change how and what people think about this most precious resource.”
What’s the first thing people look for when searching for life on other planets? Water. Water covers three-fourths of our planet. It makes for 70% of the human body. Water creates life, sustains life, even takes life. Globally, one in five people lack access to clean water, translating into 1.2 billion people without drinkable, disease-free water. As a vital component of any clean, sustainable environment, clean water needs to be preserved, cultivated, and shared. WhatAboutBlue has chosen the Mississippi River, a globally significant natural resource, as the venue to officially launch WhatAboutBlue.
Beginning on July 20, ‘Team Blue’ members, including kayaking novice Lilly and veteran kayakers Brian Coggan and Danielle Katz, will paddle the 2,500-mile Mississippi River over four months. Along the trip, Team Blue will maintain a multi-media log of their journey, accessible to supporters at WhatAboutBlue.org, regularly posting blog entries, video/audio content, and other updates, including a GPS tracking map so site visitors can always know the current location of Team Blue. Team Blue will make stops in cities along the river to take part in various water awareness events and team with more than 100 community and environmental organizations known in those markets. The kayakers will camp along the banks of the river each night and encourage local kayakers and supporters to join them throughout the journey. Proceeds (garnered largely from online contributions) will benefit organizations that support water. Initially, a portion of proceeds will benefit local and national waterway cleanup and preservation groups through The River Network and Gulf Restoration Network, and the remaining amount will benefit organizations providing clean water to communities in Africa through Blue Planet Run. Key dates (many other events being planned/in works): July 20: Expedition begins at Mississippi River headwaters, Lake Itasca, Minn. October 30: Trip concludes with appearance at Voodoo Fest, New Orleans
About WhatAboutBlue WhatAboutBlue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to change thinking about water, fostering action to preserve, cultivate, and share safe water. To launch the campaign, three WhatAboutBlue members, Team Blue, will chronicle a journey on the WhatAboutBlue website, as they travel the 2,500-mile Mississippi River, from July to October 2009. Initial beneficiaries of WhatAboutBlue include local and national waterway cleanup and preservation groups through The River Network and Gulf Restoration Network and international organizations providing clean water to communities in Africa through Blue Planet Run. For more information about WhatAboutBlue, and/or to sign-up to receive updates, please visit www.whataboutblue.org. # # #
On River:
Kevin Lilly 770-401-6410 klilly@whataboutblue.com
Danielle Katz 213-220-3686 riverkatz@earthlink.net
Brian Coggan 415-367-5658 cogganbd@gmail.com
Media contacts:
Missy Hurley 813.230.7736 mhurley.pr@gmail.com
Jesse Landis 813.846.3167 jlandispr@yahoo.com
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 1, 2009 ‘WhatAboutBlue’ kicks-off to change thinking about water
Three 20-somethings kayak the Mississippi River to raise awareness and funds ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (July 1, 2009) --
This summer, WhatAboutBlue launches with three adventurers paddling the Mississippi River over a four-month period to kick-off a campaign to change thinking about water. WhatAboutBlue, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, originated with a small Florida-based group of activists seeking to draw attention to issues related to water, determining that, while water certainly is part of the green movement, it wasn’t necessarily getting fair representation. ‘Green’ conjures images of trees, plants and grass, and water is sometimes left behind as an afterthought. WhatAboutBlue does not intend to detract anything from the green movement. Indeed, it wholeheartedly endorses the green movement – but it seeks to join the conversation by asking the question, what about ‘Blue’? The organization encourages people to think differently about water. WhatAboutBlue director Kevin Lilly explains, “We’re used to turning on the faucet, and water’s just always there, a seemingly infinite amount, pouring out and going down the drain. WhatAboutBlue wants to enhance the ‘brand’ of water, the knowledge and the connotations, to change how and what people think about this most precious resource.”
What’s the first thing people look for when searching for life on other planets? Water. Water covers three-fourths of our planet. It makes for 70% of the human body. Water creates life, sustains life, even takes life. Globally, one in five people lack access to clean water, translating into 1.2 billion people without drinkable, disease-free water. As a vital component of any clean, sustainable environment, clean water needs to be preserved, cultivated, and shared. WhatAboutBlue has chosen the Mississippi River, a globally significant natural resource, as the venue to officially launch WhatAboutBlue.
Beginning on July 20, ‘Team Blue’ members, including kayaking novice Lilly and veteran kayakers Brian Coggan and Danielle Katz, will paddle the 2,500-mile Mississippi River over four months. Along the trip, Team Blue will maintain a multi-media log of their journey, accessible to supporters at WhatAboutBlue.org, regularly posting blog entries, video/audio content, and other updates, including a GPS tracking map so site visitors can always know the current location of Team Blue. Team Blue will make stops in cities along the river to take part in various water awareness events and team with more than 100 community and environmental organizations known in those markets. The kayakers will camp along the banks of the river each night and encourage local kayakers and supporters to join them throughout the journey. Proceeds (garnered largely from online contributions) will benefit organizations that support water. Initially, a portion of proceeds will benefit local and national waterway cleanup and preservation groups through The River Network and Gulf Restoration Network, and the remaining amount will benefit organizations providing clean water to communities in Africa through Blue Planet Run. Key dates (many other events being planned/in works): July 20: Expedition begins at Mississippi River headwaters, Lake Itasca, Minn. October 30: Trip concludes with appearance at Voodoo Fest, New Orleans
About WhatAboutBlue WhatAboutBlue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to change thinking about water, fostering action to preserve, cultivate, and share safe water. To launch the campaign, three WhatAboutBlue members, Team Blue, will chronicle a journey on the WhatAboutBlue website, as they travel the 2,500-mile Mississippi River, from July to October 2009. Initial beneficiaries of WhatAboutBlue include local and national waterway cleanup and preservation groups through The River Network and Gulf Restoration Network and international organizations providing clean water to communities in Africa through Blue Planet Run. For more information about WhatAboutBlue, and/or to sign-up to receive updates, please visit www.whataboutblue.org. # # #
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