LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Award-winning actress, Jennifer Garner will host the 5th Annual Thirst Gala on Tuesday, June 24, 2014, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. The gala, in partnership with Skyo and Relativity's "Earth to Echo," will educate guests by connecting them to the people and communities the non-profit organization is helping and honor those who have contributed in the fight against the world water crisis.

The Thirst Project joined with Relativity to launch a campaign with their family movie, "Earth to Echo" (in theaters July 2, 2014). Every day, the voices of 780 million people without safe water go unheard. Consequently, The Thirst Project and Relativity decided to call on everyone to take action against this global crisis through a simple text. By texting the keyword ECHO in all caps to 51555, followed by a message of hope to someone in a community without clean drinking water, Relativity's "Earth to Echo" will donate to build wells that will provide clean water to those in need. In addition, the hopeful messages will appear on murals on the wells funded by this campaign.

Awards will be presented to those who have made incredible contributions to the cause:

VISION AWARD: Follett

The 2014 Vision Award will be presented to Follett. By making education easily accessible, they have been able to foster imagination and ignite discoveries in this generation and the next.

"We work each day to ensure that everyone has access to the necessary tools for learning," said Don Germano, President, Follett Higher Education Group. "Together with The Thirst Project and across our Follett businesses, we're making an impact by eliminating a huge barrier to education—creating new opportunities for learning—one clean, sustainable well at a time."

PIONEERING SPIRIT AWARD: Actress and Singer, Bella Thorne

Bella will be receiving the highest honor of the evening, the Pioneering Spirit Award, which actor Kevin Nealon will be accepting on her behalf. In addition to donating extremely generously to fund her own wells, Bella signed on to be the official spokeswoman for The Thirst Project's "Dirty Little Secret" campaign, promoting the organization through press outlets. By using her voice, leveraging her supporters, and giving countless hours of her time, Bella has positively impacted many lives.

"The first time I saw Seth [president and CEO of The Thirst Project] at the Do Something Awards, I saw the most passionate and kind human being on the planet. I would like to thank The Thirst Project and Seth, not only for this award but, more importantly, for opening my eyes to the needs around me," said Bella Thorne.

To learn more about the cause and The Thirst Project, please visit www.thirstproject.org

To learn more about Follett Corporation, please visit www.follett.com

To learn more about Relativity, please visit www.relativitymedia.com

To learn more about Skyo, please visit www.skyo.com

PR Contact:
Laura Ackermann
laura@persona-pr.com
310-358-3090

SOURCE The Thirst Project