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.