1Love.org Launches Special Marley Mission to Celebrate Bob Marley's Birthday: '1 Drop of Water for 1Love'

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinciding with what would have been Bob Marley's 66th birthday on February 6, 2011, 1Love.org has launched a campaign to create a virtual stream of water to stretch around the world to benefit charity: water.  "1 Drop of Water for 1Love" is a special 1Love.org Marley Mission project that will encourage people worldwide to virtually contribute a single drop of water and post a message in support of clean water for those in need.  Join the movement and take action at http://www.1Love.org/1drop.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110206/NY43186LOGO )

Participants in the "1 Drop of Water for 1Love" mission join the 1Love.org community and commit to add their personal, geo-located virtual drop of water to the campaign. For each drop of water committed, 1Love.org and its sponsors — The House of Marley personal audio products, Marley's Mellow Mood 100% natural relaxation teas and sodas, and Marley Coffee — will donate $1 to charity: water with a goal to raise $19,450 — Bob Marley was born in 1945 — which would provide clean, safe water to approximately 1,000 people.  Once a virtual water drop is created, the drop and birthday wish can be shared directly on the 1Love.org members' personal Facebook page, Twitter and other social media channels.  Visitors can return to 1Love.org and view their "droplet" as part of the larger stream on a global map, as other water drops are committed from around the world.  In addition, participants will be encouraged to personally give money to the cause via the 1Love.org Giving Center or the mycharity: water page for the campaign.  Learn more at http://www.1love.org/1drop or visit the 1Love.org Facebook page.

"Water changes everything. The work of charity: water, in providing access to clean and safe water, can transform a community.  It helps decrease the spread of water-borne diseases, offers women a chance to earn an income and provides children a chance to get an education," said Cedella Marley, Bob's daughter, on behalf of the Marley Family.  "Water projects bring people together and offer improved health, a better quality of life and hope for a better future.  This special Marley Mission is why we created 1Love.org and we encourage all those who share our family's ideals to join the 1Love.org movement and support charity: water."

Right now, almost a billion people on the planet don't have access to clean and safe drinking water.  That's one in eight of us.  charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. In four years, charity: water has funded more than 3,811 water projects in 17 different countries, serving over 1.7 million people.  Just $20 can give one person clean water.  To learn more, visit charitywater.org.

1Love.org supports charity: water and encourages action in this special Marley Mission because:

• 80% of diseases are caused by unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation.  This kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

• 42,000 people will die this week from diseases related to unsafe drinking water. 90% of them will be children under the age of five.

• 40 billion hours are spent every year in Africa just walking for water.  Women and children usually bear the burden of water collection, walking miles to get water that is likely to make them sick.

"The work of charity: water is changing lives in regions of the world that are close to the hearts and minds of the entire Marley family and 1Love.org is eager to play a role in encouraging action and stimulating change for a better planet," said Donna Mastropasqua, executive director, 1Love.org.  "Taking part in our '1Drop of Water for 1Love' mission will require very little time, yet the results will last for generations to come.  It is a powerful way to honor the memory of Bob Marley on his birthday and help his family carry his message forward."

Doing Good: The Marley Missions

The Marley Missions are a series of projects created by 1Love.org with a simple goal: to inspire Bob Marley fans everywhere — including more than 19 million fans on the official Bob Marley Facebook page — to carry out one small act of love and kindness every day.  Recommended Marley Missions will be advanced by members of the Marley family and by their extended family in the 1Love.org community.  Aggregated, these simple acts become powerful agents for change and for good.

Giving Back: The 1Love.org Giving Center

1Love.org community members can also contribute money to 1Love.org-supported charities through the 1Love.org Giving Center.  Gifts offered through The Giving Center are meant as a small gesture of appreciation to those who donate to one of the 1Love.org-supported charity partners with proceeds going directly to the charity that is meaningful to the participant.  These "thank you" gifts are all made with an emphasis on eco-friendly and environmentally responsible materials.  1Love.org members can currently contribute to charity: water, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Invisible Children, and African Leadership Academy. Since launching in December, more than 2,800 donations made via the 1Love.org Giving Center have already raised more than $175,000.

About 1Love.org

The epicenter of a global movement, 1Love.org is dedicated to spreading Bob Marley's message of unity and peace by lifting up a new generation of "young gongs" to strike the hammer for charities, causes and ideas that can change the world. 1Love.org is a not-for-profit business created with the Marley family to create awareness and a sustainable flow of contributions to benefit 1Love.org-supported charities that empower youth, protect our planet and encourage global peace.  A portion of the proceeds from product sales of three Marley Family ventures, The House of Marley personal audio products, Marley's Mellow Mood 100% natural relaxation teas and sodas, and Marley Coffee, support 1Love.org. Join the movement and learn more at http://www.1Love.org, http://www.TheHouseofMarley.com, http://www.MarleysMellowMood.com, and http://www.MarleyCoffee.com.

SOURCE 1Love.org