Agent Z reporting, here is the next batch of photos from chepstowe basic school in jamaica. we are happy to say the children have a new classroom now . our gratitude and thanks to everyone for helping us to complete this portion of the vision, that includes you. everything we do we do it together. so what more can i say.

love

oh and meet me in Johannesburg. see you.

agent Z

To see more images, please click here

On April 16, 2010, Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE), the charitable organization funded by Ziggy Marley, held its biannual health fair at the Cedella Booker Basic School, Nine Mile, Saint Ann.

A 21-member team of physicians, nurses and support staff was spearheaded by Dr. Bruno Lewin, a physician and Director of Travel Advisory Service at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, California. Assisted by Tuff Gong International employees, the dedicated volunteers administered free medical care to residents of Nine Mile and surrounding communities. Over the counter medication were also issued to patients.

There were representatives from the St. Ann's Health Department on location, offering services such as immunization, nutrition information, mental health and physical therapy. Home visits were also conducted to the benefit of over twenty residents. The visiting physicians and nurses were led by Nurse Patty Anderson.

Other sponsorship was provided by Nine Mile Charitable Foundation, BM Nine Miles Tour Limited, Bob Marley Foundation and the Arthur Burrowes Centre.

A registration desk for membership to the Nine Miles United Districts Citizens Association was also on location. The districts that form the Association include Nine Mile, Stepney, Sterling, Alva, Calderwood, Down Lodge, Eight Mile, Higgins Land, Prickly Pole, Grants Mountain, Murray Mountain, Bambredo and Hessen Castle.

To see more images from the event, please click here

From Ziggy:

"hi all, it's me again.

i want to update you on the progress we are making at the school in jamaica. last time we spoke i told you about the next step.

well here it is in living color. these intel pics just in.

now remember, you are a participant in the good things we are doing. as i've mentioned before part proceeds from the sales of family time as well as all donations to u.r.g.e helps us to bring positive change. here we can see it.

this is the additional classroom the kids need being built by our jamaican crew. it's going to be sweet.

anyway this was just a short update to keep you in the loop. we're just giving thanks.

talk again soon.

agent Z"

To see all the pictures, please click here.

KINGSTON, JAMAICA - Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE), the charity organization sponsored by Ziggy Marley, recently donated musical instruments to two schools attended by the members of the Grammy winning band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Students at the Bull Bay All Age School were delighted with their gifts as was evident when they joined former Tuff Gong International staff member Brother Herald Hart for a rendition of ‘None A Jah Jah Children Nuh Cry.’ Three classrooms at the school were...(read full press release)

Big thanks to Great Shape! Inc. and Event Networks for their generous gifts of time and materials to the Chepstowe Basic School, Port Antonio, Jamaica.

In a recent visit, SuperKids volunteers from Great Shape! Inc. delivered bags to children in need, along with reading books and a curriculum and resources to teach reading, computer literacy, sports, art and music.

Event Networks donated 270 computer bags to U.R.G.E. for this program.

Chepstowe is one of many schools assisted by Great Shape! Inc.. Here's some more information about this group:

"Great Shape! Inc. has been serving and partnering with the people of Jamaica since 1988 – we blossomed from the passion of three women in Oregon into an international organization that aids 25,000+ Jamaicans each year. We facilitate three humanitarian projects in Jamaica: 1000 Smiles (world’s largest, international humanitarian dental program), SuperKids (literacy empowerment project) and iCare (vision project). We send 300 volunteers to Negril, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay each fall to provide better vision, improve literacy, and offer life-changing dental procedures."

Please click here for a blog entry about the visit from one of the volunteers.

To see a gallery of images from the visit, Please click here

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I am happy to share with you some pictures from Jamaica.

Remember a few months ago......or maybe it was a year.

Aahhhh it doesn't matter, we mentioned proceeds from the sale of Family Time were going to benefit a school in Jamaica.

Well, here is your money at work. This is Chepstowe Basic School, Port Antonio, Jamaica.

It's a small start, but it's just the beginning. There is my big sister Sharon, (she's in the yellow shirt and the red, gold and green cap) she's organizing the installation of the play sets you have helped us to donate to the kids at Chepstowe.

Doesn't it feel wonderful to help.

Look how green and luscious Port Antonio is. Jamaica is beautiful. Take me, take me to Jamaica now : )

The next thing we are working on is a new classroom which we will start early next year. I'll send you pics when we are done. Until then my friends, love.

oh! The ladies you see in the pictures are the teachers. The lady in pink is the principal. They are great people.

All right, just take good care of yourself. We'll talk later. Cool."

Ziggy's charity, U.R.G.E., sponsored on Friday, October 23, 2009 a health fair at the Cedella Booker Basic School, in Nine Mile, St. Ann.

Dr. Mayssa Sultan, acupuncturist and Advocacy Program Manager for the American Pain Foundation and Dr. Walter Coppernath from the Kaiser Sunset Family Practice Residency Programme in California headed a team of dentist, nurses and doctors, who, along with Jamaican Dr. Carlton Fraser, administered free medical care to members of the community. The medical team was assisted by Tuff Gong International employees.

Additionally, the mobile mammogram unit of the Jamaica Cancer Society provided its service, as did a team of optometrists who screened and distributed adult reading glasses.

Other sponsors included the BM Nine Mile Tours Limited, as well as the Nine Mile Charitable Foundation.

Please click here to see a gallery of images from the clinic

KINGSTON, JAMAICA - Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE) recently donated funds to the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) for its Schools' Environment Programme. On September 25, 2009, a cheque was presented to the chief executive officer of JET, Diana McCaulay.

The presentation took place at the Legend Café on the grounds of the Bob Marley Museum. Ziggy Marley's daughter, Zuri, handed over the cheque, signaling an investment in the future of her own generation.

The Schools' Environment Programme, now in its 13th year, is working to implement garbage management and greening activities in approximately 100...(read full press release)

Event Networks has donated several hundred lap top bags to Ziggy's charity, U.R.G.E.

These bags will be among other items U.R.G.E. will distribute this Christmas to those in need.

Many thanks to Event Networks for their donation!

Back in 2005, U.R.G.E. began financial aid to Robert Gordon, a straight "A" student at Richmond Preparatory School in Kingston, Jamaica.

Robert recently graduated with top marks, will be attending Campion College AND was granted a full government scholarship!

Well done Robert! Congratulations and all the best in your continued education!

Tuff Gong was pleased to welcome Ziggy Marley and his family to Jamaica for the holidays. During their visit, Ziggy through his charitable foundation URGE (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment) sponsored a holiday treat, distributed shoes, clothing and much needed school items to the children in the community of Nine Mile, St. Ann. In 2008 a multi court facility was built at the Nine Mile community playfield that was co-sponsored by URGE, the Sports Development Foundation and Golden Sands Foundation.

Click image for more photos

Mary's...(read full press release)

Mrs. Marley recently made a trip to the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica.

During her visit, she met with young patients, the hospital staff, and presented a donation from Ziggy's charity, U.R.G.E.

Donations were made to the Surgical and Burnt Wards, which included:
* Truphatek Fibre Optical Laryngoscope Sets
* Blood Pressure machine
* Chairs for visiting parents and nurses
* Mayo Stand for the operating room
* Stand-mounted Sunction Pump
* Metro Basic Crash Cart for bedside treatment of emergency cases

Photos of the visit were taken by Mitzy Evans. Click here to see all the photos.

Click here to read a news article about Mrs. Marley's visit.

Click on the image to see some photos from the school in Jamaica which U.R.G.E. assists.

And locally, U.R.G.E. recently made a generous donation to the 2nd Annual Kidstock Music and Art Festival in support of One Voice / Scholars program. 100% of the high school seniors who participate in this program have been accepted into four year colleges such as Amherst, Barnard, Reed, Scripps, Wellesley and Williams

Click here to see more URGE pictures!

Come out to Booksoup on July 20th for a very special book reading with Ziggy and Julius, Paul Frank's famed wide-mouthed monkey!

Ziggy will help Julius present his new book and discuss the importance of creativity and reading. Books will be autographed and money with be raised for First Book.

Click here or on the picture to see the full size flyer of information

For Immediate Release

Kingston, Jamaica

19th June 2008

URGEnt HELP FOR JAMAICAN HOSPITALS

In 1991 Ziggy Marley made his first donation to the Bustamante Hospital for Children and ever since has continued assisting this institution. In early 2008, Ziggy Marley’s family foundation, URGE (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment) donated (10) Laryngoscope sets, blood pressure machines, a Metro Basic crash cart and a Stand Mounted Suction Pump to this hospital that was in need of equipment.

URGE also responded to an appeal by Chain of Hope Jamaica and paid for a pacemaker for 5-month old baby Shinnia Porteous, who at the time...(read full press release)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica

May 21, 2008

PACEMAKER FOR INFANT DONATED BY URGE

The public appeal by Chain of Hope Jamaica for a pacemaker for 5 month old baby Shinnia Shauna-K Porteous was answered by Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE), the charitable organization founded by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Baby Shinnia is now resting comfortably at home with her mother, Carin Crooks who has expressed thanks to the many Jamaicans who called to convey their concern and to give their support to her family.

URGE would like to thank Dr. Roger Irvine and his staff at the Bustamante...(read full press release)

Ziggy recently visited Belvedere Middle School arranged by the Little Kids Rock Music Education Program.

U.R.G.E. HOSTS ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR AT NINE MILE, ST. ANN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica

April 30, 2007

U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), the charitable organization founded by Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers sponsored its annual Health Fair on Saturday, April 26, 2007 at the Cedella Marley Booker Basic School in Nine Mile, St. Ann.

Dr. Lewin Bruno, a physician and Director of Travel Advisory Service at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, CA and who also teaches medical students at UCLA Medical School, spearheaded a 25-member team of 12 physicians including a dentist and acupuncturist, four nurses, dietician, medical students and support staff....(read full press release)

ZIGGY MARLEY AND URGE CO-SPONSORS PROJECT WITH THE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION IN NINE MILES, ST. ANN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.

15th March, 2007

Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment (URGE), a charitable organization founded and operated by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers is pleased to announce that it is a co-sponsor with the Sports Development Association in building a multi-court facility at the Nine Miles Community Centre, Nine Miles, St. Ann. The construction of a multi-court facility will be home to netball, basketball and similar sports.

Most recently, a One Love football tournament kicked off at the Community Centre with...(read full press release)

This Holiday Season U.R.G.E donated a hot plate and re-upholstered some furniture for the girls at Mary's Child to help in their efforts in opening a "tuck" shop where they will sell snacks and patties to the Jamaican College students and surrounding communities.

U.R.G.E also gave a holiday party with a Christmas lunch for the children at Glenhope with clowns, face painting and lots of fun and games. U.R.G.E would like to thank all the volunteers who help makes these events possible.

U.R.G.E. (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers charitable organization, sponsored a Christmas Party Sunday, December 21, 2005 for 62 children who range in age from newborn – 10 years at the Glenhope Nursery, 88 Maxfield Avenue, Kingston, Jamaica.

Lunch was provided for the children that included sandwiches, Christmas cake and juices and was followed by play activities with newly donated equipment. Staff members of Tuff Gong International Limited assembled a new basket ball hoop and play slide donated by U.R.G.E. The Robert Marley Foundation also donated a brightly decorated tree for the festivity.

In the coming year, U.R.G.E. will also be assisting the institution with the construction of a sunroof over its play area.

U.R.G.E. is a non-profit organization that makes enduring contributions to improve the communities in which children learn, live and grow in hopes of nourishing their future.

For further information:
Contact: Lorna Wainwright: 876-923-9382