Hi Everybody! I just wanted to post an article here really quickly for you to read. As you know from my previous post I'm working on a project that is primarily sponsored by the founder of Cirque de Soleil. Yesterday they officially went public and announced their organization to the world which is called "One Drop". Although it was probably much bigger news in Quebec, I did find an English article too. On December 6th Guy (the founder) will be visiting the project here. Wow, I'll be hanging out with a celebrity! What fun!

Read the short article below for more info:

(yah yah, pictures are coming soon!)

"More than a drop in the bucket"

$100-million pledge. Cirque du Soleil founder starts organization to promote access to clean drinking water.

ANNE SUTHERLAND, The GazettePublished: 9 hours ago

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté yesterday pledged $100 million to a foundation he's begun to combat poverty by increasing access to clean drinking water.
The worldwide initiative is called One Drop. Laliberté's contribution will cover operating costs for One Drop; field activities will be paid for through donations from Cirque employees and Canadian and international partners.
The foundation will work with the humanitarian organization Oxfam and Prince Albert of Monaco's environmental foundation. The Royal Bank of Canada also pledged $10 million toward the project.

Prince Albert joined Laliberté yesterday for the announcement at the Cirque's soaring Montreal North complex, as did RBC president and CEO Gordon Nixon, and Jeremy Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam International.
Laliberté has pledged to give $4 million a year for 25 years to the One Drop Foundation, which will be based in Montreal.
"I have had a dream for 25 years of offering an oasis to the world," Laliberté said. "I still dream of changing the world, of inspiring and touching people.
"Every eight seconds a child dies from a disease caused by drinking contaminated water. "
Hobbs said: "One Drop is a vital initiative. Our climate and how we live have an effect on how people in developing countries live."
The money is to be spent to promote education, community involvement and public awareness of water and water issues, Laliberté said.
One Drop will fund projects like well construction and improved access to potable water through water filtration, and will foster food safety by establishing family gardens where people from developing nations will be taught to better use water.
"Access to water will be key in in years to come," Nixon said. "The One Drop initiative is timely with our own RBC Blue Water program, dedicated to improving water access, conservation, education and protection."
The $10 million RBC has pledged over 10 years is Blue Water's first announced grant.
"Water issues are a major challenge for this century," Prince Albert said. "We must preserve and better manage this fundamental and irreplaceable resource."
Hobbs cited the phenomenal success of Laliberté and the Cirque in the past 23 years.
"If anyone can turn a drop of water into a river or an ocean, it's Guy Laliberté."

The Gazette (Montreal) 2007