Emile Joins Celebrity Friends for Kilimanjaro Trek

Actor Emile Hirsch will join Jessica Biel, Lupe Fiasco, Isabel Lucas, Santigold and many of the worlds brightest minds and major cultural influencers, for a 50 mile journey to the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

The Kilimanjaro climbers will discuss the issue of water, alongside educators who are leaders at the forefront of global issues. The trek begins January 7.

Grammy-nominated musician, philanthropist, “actionist” and mastermind behind Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro, Kenna, officially announced Emile’s involvement.

Since its announcement in September 2009, the project has been raising awareness of the global clean water crisis as well as funds on www.summitonthesummit.com for The Childrens Safe Drinking Water Program, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Water For People’s Playpump Technology. All funds raised by Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro will be managed and distributed through the United Nations Foundation, the projects charitable advisors.

“When Kenna called me about joining the team for Summit on the Summit, I could hardly contain my excitement-combining an epic adventure with an educational process on the global water crisis, and finding a creative way to engage people towards an important and charitable cause, this climb is something special I couldn’t miss” said Emile (pictured below).

“I hope we can inspire as many people as possible in doing this, as well as learn more about the water crisis ourselves, and what we can do in our everyday lives. And put this on the books; I’m making it to the top.”

For Kenna, the vision behind Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro stems from his drive to create a greater good for our youth and has personal meaning as his father was deeply affected by water-borne illness as a child in Ethiopia as his fathers own brother had passed away from the illness as well.

Kenna has inspired his influential friends to join the climb which in addition to Hirsch include Jessica Biel, Lupe Fiasco, Isabel Lucas, Santigold, plus educators such as Alexandra Cousteau, National Geographic Emerging Explorer and grand-daughter of famous explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Elizabeth Gore, Executive Director for Global Partnerships for the United Nations Foundation, Simon Isaacs, international development and water expert, award winning photographers Michael Muller and Jimmy Chin, Kick Kennedy, environmental activist and granddaughter of Robert Kennedy, and Bernise Ang, avid social entrepreneur and recipient of the YouthActionNet Award & Fellowship from the International Youth Foundation.

All participants have been in intense physical training to prepare for the trip. As a team they will be learning of solutions to the water problem, discussing how to improve social awareness and embracing the idea they are the example for showing ways to take action and give back to those with little or nothing.

Supporters will have an opportunity to follow the action as it is happening and interact with the climbers through the Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro website with additional communication through Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.

Visitors can also get a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation and training that went into the climb from a series of web videos, keep track of climbers progress on the mountain with the help of GPS trackers, plus stay informed and interact throughout the climb. From the mountain, the team will be communicating with blogging, status updating, uploading photos and videos from Mt. Kilimanjaro with fans at www.summitonthesummit.com. Those who wish to contribute to the cause may sponsor a foot on the site or purchase products with proceeds going towards the cause.

Photo: Michael Muller