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 was a patient at the Bustamante Hospital for Children and is now recovering at home.

The Marley Family also donated twelve CPI Baby Cots and an Infant Radiant Warmer to The Victoria Jubilee Hospital Premature Nursery. Earlier donations to this institution include incubators and water coolers.

URGE is the host of an annual health fair in Nine Mile, St. Ann with visiting doctors and nurses from various San Francisco area hospitals who donate time and medical supplies to the community.

Contact: L. Wainwright

www.ziggymarley.com/urge

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 Children’s Hospital and the Chain of Hope Jamaica for their services and especially to the media for bringing public awareness to this story.

For further information:
Please contact:
Lorna Wainwright

Here are some of the ways in which U.R.G.E. has acted over the past year.

*March 2008: URGE donated funds to add supplies to the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica.

*April 2008: URGE sponsored Belvedere Middle School student Kimberly Vargas allowing for her to play with the LA Swish team in Los Angeles.

*December 2007: URGE donated educational books to Glenhope Nursery in Kingston, Jamiaca.

*October 2007: URGE provided financial aid to Robert Gordon, a straight "A" student, attending Richmond Park Preparatory School in Kingston, Jamaica.

*October 2007: URGE assisted with the tuition for David Reid to attend Promise Learning Centre.  The Promise Learning Centre is a Special Education Institution established in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1993.  It provides academic, technical, and social training for children born with Autism and other learning disabilities.

*September 2007: URGE assisted the family of Omar "Brains" McCoy from Majestic Gardens in Kingston, Jamaica.

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. Assisted by the Tuff Gong International employees, these dedicated volunteers administered free medical care and donated supplies to over 500 adults and children from Stepney District and surrounding rural areas. Home visits were also conducted by some of the physicians and URGE supporters. Annually, Dr. Bruno also organizes a multi-disciplinary medical clinic in Falmouth. Air Jamaica provided discounted air fares from Los Angeles to Jamaica for Dr. Bruno and his team.

Colgate Jamaica provided its mobile dental unit for dental consultations, fillings, extractions. Some 140 children received dental cleaning and supplies.

For further information

Contact: Lorna Wainwright, URGE Project Coordinator

(876) 923-9380

Images

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 Mrs. Cedella Booker, Stephen and Damian Marley in attendance. This was won by Ferncourt High School, Clarermont, St. Ann.

Other projects implemented by the Marley family in St. Ann include the roofing of Rhoden Hall Basic School, the building of a library, canteen, chicken coop and water tanks at Stepney Primary and All Age where Bob Marley attended at an early age. Over fifteen students from that institution have benefitted from scholarships sponsored by the Marley family.

For further information:
Please contact Lorna Wainwright
Tuff Gong International Limited
Kingston, Jamaica, W.I.
(876) 923-9382

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.