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 damaged by fire and Stephanie Marley, who made the presentation, has made a commitment to give some assistance with the repairs. She is appealing to other past students to contact the school and join the rebuilding team.

Students from Melrose Primary and Junior High were presented with their instruments while participating in the reputed ‘Making of Music’ tour of Tuff Gong International facilities, including the world famous recording studio where they sang and recorded their rendition of the founder, Bob Marley’s hit song ‘One Love.’

Please click here to see pictures.

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 schools. Teacher training workshops are also conducted for approximately 300 schools across the island.

URGE has been assisting the JET since 1996.

URGE is run by Ziggy Marley who donates US$1 from each of his concert ticket sales towards the organization's activities. Ziggy is the first son of the Hon. Robert Nesta Marley, O.M.

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 Child Children's Home in Kingston, was also visited by Mrs. Orly Marley and family who fed and presented personalized gifts of robes, adult and children clothing to its residents.

URGE is the recipient of $1.00 for every ticket sold at Ziggy Marley concerts. He is currently on a two week tour of Australia and New Zealand.

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

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