IMC partners with Starbucks for World Water Day event Santa Monica to Venice walk inspired by journey of women worldwide

International Medical Corps and Starbucks are partnering for a “walk for water” to raise awareness about the critical lack of clean, safe drinking water worldwide.

The event, The “Walk for Water: Los Angeles”, will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2007, from Santa Monica Pier and end at Venice Beach.

The walk, which includes music and dance performances, Starbucks coffee and Tazo tea service and special guest speakers, is inspired by the 3-6 mile journey women and children make every day in “water stressed” countries. The time spent fetching water for their families prevents them from pursuing an education, maintaining their households or earning additional income. For more information or to register for the event please visit www.worldwaterday.net.

In 2007 IMC will begin implementing a two-year water and sanitation program benefiting 45,000 people in the Samburu District of Kenya made possible by a $1 million dollar grant from the Ethos Water Fund at the Starbucks Foundation. The award will officially be announced at the event.

“Starbucks hopes to help raise awareness and be a significant collaborator in support of solutions to help alleviate the world water crisis,” said Jim Donald, Starbucks President and CEO.

“We appreciate Starbucks recognition of the global water crisis and their support for this event,” says Steve Commins, IMC’s Advisor on Fragile States, who will be speaking at the event. “We share a commitment to provide water for poor communities, where too often the lack of clean water leads to severe illnesses, malnutrition and other diseases of poverty.” Commins also teaches at the Department of Urban Planning at UCLA, where he directs research programs on water and sanitation in Africa.

“Walk for Water: Los Angeles” is being held in recognition of World Water Day, observed on March 22nd each year. Designated by the United Nations in 1992, events around the globe are meant to draw attention to the more than one billion people worldwide who do not have access to clean water. Events are taking place in 26 cities across the country with support from Starbucks Coffee Company, Ethos Water and leading NGOs like IMC.

International Medical Corps is the largest humanitarian aid organization based in California. Since its inception in 1984, IMC’s mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease, by delivering vital health care services that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance. More information about IMC can be found at www.imcworldwide.org.