School alumnus climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro to spread news about clean water crisis
January 18, 2013 | |
Greg Allgood, PhD, director of Procter and Gamble’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, was one of 17 celebrities and clean water advocates who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro this month to draw attention to the nearly one billion people in the world without access to clean drinking water.
Allgood received Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Public Health degrees from Gillings School of Global Public Health, in 1981 and 1983, respectively. The expedition was sponsored by Summit on the Summit, an initiative founded by Grammy-nominated musician and philanthropist Kenna to raise awareness, increase education, inspire advocacy and create change related to the global water crisis. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is 19,341 feet above sea level, making it the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. Summit on the Summit’s Jan. 18 announcement noted that this year’s team, the second to make the trip in three years, included musician Mark Foster, of Foster the People actors Justin Chatwin and Beau Garrett; RYOT.org co-founder Bryn Mooser; and photographer Chase Jarvis. In addition to Allgood and Kenna, climbers included Eddie Bauer first ascent guides Melissa Arnot and David Morton; water educators Chevenee Reavis, of Water.org, an organization co-founded by School alumnus Gary White and actor/activist Matt Damon; Cynthia Koenig of Wello Water and Steve Hall of H2O For Life. Thousands of followers participated virtually in the seven-day, 50-mile trek via the Summit Seeker interactive game on the organization’s website. Social media activity was extensive, Allgood said, with many celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Hugh Jackman, former Summit trekker Jessica Biel, Emile Hirsch and others supporting the effort. “On behalf of P&G, I want to thank UNC for being such a great partner in helping address the global water crisis,” Allgood said in an email to supporters at the university. “I was thinking of my friends at UNC all the way, including at the peak.” UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: David Pesci, director of communications, (919) 962-2600 or dpesci@unc.edu. |
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