(New York, NY) March 19, 2018 – On World Water Day, March 22, Grammy-winning international superstar and business entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez, known by the stage name Pitbull, will be honored and address delegates about the global water crisis from the General Assembly Hall at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Pitbull, a.k.a. Mr. Worldwide, will join the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly and Ms. Lani Dolifka, Founder of Clean Water Here, to officially launch the Water Action Decade of 2018-2028. Unanimously adopted in a United Nations General Assembly resolution, the Water Action Decade is a 10-year plan of programs and activities geared to put greater focus on the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources.
Pitbull will be named Clean Water Here Global Ambassador and receive the 2018 World Water Champion Award for his global humanitarian efforts to promote the human right to access safe water. As a leading supporter of the Clean Water Here Cause Flash social media campaigns to promote UN-Water on World Water Day, Pitbull will, for the first time ever, launch the global celebrity-driven awareness campaign in the General Assembly Hall.
“Our leaders need to understand that economy and environment are not mutually exclusive. One is not more important than the other. Try counting your money while holding your breath, starving and dehydrating at the same time. All life needs water,” said Mr. Pérez (Pitbull). “Clean Water Here is committed to improving access to safe water for all, and it is an honor to serve as global ambassador. Equally, it is an honor to address delegates at the United Nations on World Water Day about this critical issue.”
“We recognize and applaud your leadership and continued support of the ‘Clean Water Here’ global initiative to provide safe water to everyone,” stated H.E. Mr. Lajčák in the invitation to Pitbull. “By lending your powerful voice to this important cause, you give voice to the most needy and vulnerable among us who have none. Your continued support of UN-Water and efforts to help promote World Water Day are greatly appreciated.”
“We are very pleased to designate Pitbull as the first Clean Water Here Global Ambassador,” said Ms. Dolifka, Founder of the Clean Water Here Foundation. “As an international artist and humanitarian, Pitbull has utilized his widespread platform for years to assist our Clean Water Here efforts. We are very grateful he will continue to help amplify awareness around the urgent issue of safe drinking water. Water is the great equalizer. It is required for every woman, man and child.”
Pitbull began to appreciate the need for access to clean water at an early age through his mother’s insight and wisdom: She strongly believed water would one day become a valuable resource and made sure her young, street-smart son understood why. Empowered by her many life lessons, Pitbull realized that knowledge – or lack of it – influenced the choices he made and shaped his destiny. Success has enabled Pitbull to share his passion for education and make a difference by helping to establish Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM!) schools, which primarily serve students from low-income neighborhoods.
Prior to the launch of the Water Action Decade, Pitbull will join renown photographers Martin Schoeller, Kristen Ashburn, and Robert Clark to unveil the Clean Water Here 1x Global Photography Exhibit, of which all proceeds will benefit the global humanitarian organization World Vision. The Exhibit will make its debut at the UN Headquarters in New York before touring around the world, including exhibition at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
About Pitbull
From Mr. 305 to Mr. Worldwide, Armando Christian Pérez, aka Pitbull, rose from the streets of Miami to exemplify the American Dream and achieve international success. His relentless work ethic transformed him into a Grammy®-winning global superstar and business entrepreneur. Among his numerous achievements are # 1 hits in over 15 countries, sold-out world concert tours, and ventures including Voli 305 vodka and the “Pitbull” fragrance line. His social networking channels have a combined total of more than 80 million followers. Pitbull also serves as ambassador to the Sports Leadership Arts and Management (SLAM!) charter schools he has helped to establish.
Water Action Decade of 2018-2028
The President of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák identified sustainable development as a priority. Therefore, on World Water Day, 22 March 2018, he will launch the International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028 aiming to further improve cooperation, partnership and capacity development in response to the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Clean, accessible water is critical for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and it is indispensable for human development, health and well-being. There is sufficient fresh water on the planet to achieve this. But water related challenges, including limited access to safe water and sanitation, increasing pressure on water resources and ecosystems, and an exacerbated risk of droughts and floods, remain high on the global agenda. Unanimously adopted in a United Nations General Assembly resolution, the Water Action Decade of 2018-2028 will contribute to the achievement of these goals by facilitating the sharing of good practices and providing a platform for advocacy, networking and partnership building. For more information, please visit https://www.un.org/pga/72/event-latest/launch-of-the-international-decade-of-water-for-sustainable-development-2018-2028/
Clean Water Here
Founded by Lani Dolifka, CEO of Watermill Express, the Clean Water Here mission is to improve the world’s access to sustainable safe drinking water by raising awareness, supporting research and education, and advocating for underserved communities in the US and abroad. Research indicates there are risks associated with contaminants, infrastructure, and universal and equitable access. For more information visit www.cleanwaterhere.org
UN World Water Day
World Water Day has been observed since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22 as the annual “World Day for Water.” Coordinated by UN-Water in collaboration with UN Member States and other stakeholders, this day is devoted to implementing recommendations and promoting concrete activities within countries regarding the world’s water resources. In addition to the UN Member States, a number of NGOs promoting clean water leverage World Water Day as a time to focus public attention on the critical water issues facing the world. For more information visit www.worldwaterday.org
Watermill Express
Founded in 1984, Watermill Express is the largest drive-up pure drinking water company in the U.S. and the green alternative to prepackaged water. Watermill Express customers reuse their own clean containers to reduce pollution from single-use plastic water bottles. The Company supports causes that promote the health and welfare of children and families and is a supporter of Clean Water Here. For more information visit www.watermillexpress.com
World Vision
Clean Water Here supports World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision is the largest non-governmental provider of clean water in the developing world – reaching one new person with clean water every 30 seconds. For more information, visit www.WorldVision.org or on Twitter @WorldVisionUSA
Cause Flash
Created by David Clark Cause, Cause Flash is a digital platform devoted to aggregating the social media voices (Twitter, Facebook, Google+ followers) of dignitaries, celebrities, charities, brands and the public at large, so large scale social media campaigns can be launched instantly. By harnessing talent and technology to rally people around important causes that deserve immediate attention, Cause Flash elevates the human condition by inspiring and empowering people to donate funds and their own social media voices to address some of the greatest challenges of our time. For more information visit www.causeflash.org
1x is an online photo community with a difference, because professional curators select all published photos. 1x was started to promote photography as a form of art and on the premise that art is a basic human need that everyone should have access to. The 1x mission is to gather the best photography in the world, photos that make people feel. Working with Clean Water Here, 1x is proud to help promote giving access to an even more basic need – water. For more information visit www.1x.com
Contact
Clean Water Here
Rebekah Alperin
+1.310.770.1045
