4.23.2008 - 01:35pm ET

$5 charity: water bracelets available at Saks Fifth Avenue and saks.com. (PRNewsFoto/Saks Fifth Avenue)

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- This Mother's and Father's Day, Saks Fifth Avenue is teaming with charity: water, a nonprofit organization that builds freshwater wells in developing nations for as little as $5000, to provide entire communities with fresh water for years.

Mother's Day and Father's Day are time for reflection, appreciation and giving. But for millions of mothers and fathers around the world, the most priceless gift is the simplest: water. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness on the planet and lead to 2.2 million deaths every year. Millions of adults and children walk 3 miles every day, carrying 80 pounds of water back to their families -- unsafe water. These numbers only scratch the surface of an enormous problem -- one that we can have a major impact in resolving.

(Photo:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080423/NYW072 )

Stephen I. Sadove, Chairman and CEO Saks Fifth Avenue said, "We recognize the world wide issue of unsafe water facing many underdeveloped countries and we were compelled to become involved. charity: water is a vital initiative that is not only solving these life threatening conditions, but also generating awareness. Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to support charity: water in its efforts to provide clean drinking water to Africa, India and South America."

Scott Harrison, Founder of charity: said, "In my travels throughout Africa, I'm constantly moved by the great need for clean water. Women and children often walk miles to fetch contaminated water for their families. Entire communities drink from muddy rivers and ponds. But we can help. For less than $20 a person, we can provide millions of people with access to clean, safe water. We're excited to partner with Saks to spread awareness of the looming water crisis and engage the public in simple solutions."

Beginning April 21st and running through Mother's Day and Father's Day, Saks customers will be able to become part of the solution by:

1) GETTING THE BRACELET
$5 each in Saks stores, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores, on saks.com or through 800.871.SAKS.

2) SENDING AN E-CARD
$20 each at saks.com.

3) SPONSORING A FRESHWATER WELL
A $5000 donation will help an entire community gain access to clean water for drinking, cooking and basic sanitation. Visit saks.com or call 800.871.SAKS.

ABOUT CHARITY: WATER

Since charity: water was founded and began activity in August 2006, they have funded the construction of more than 250 wells that, when completed, will provide clean drinking water to 150,000 people. charity: water uses 100 percent of the money it raises to directly fund freshwater well and sanitation projects in some of the poorest communities in Africa, India and Central America.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER:

In August 2004, after a 10-year foray into special event planning and promotions business, Scott Harrison left New York to serve for a year as a volunteer photojournalist onboard the Mercy Ship Anastasis to impoverished Liberia, West Africa. Upon returning to his home in New York City in September 2005, he tested the idea behind charity: water by producing a large exhibition of his photographs and videos called mercy. Despite opening in the midst of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Harrison's mercy show was a success. Visitors contributed more than $96,000 towards providing medical procedures and freshwater wells in West Africa. In October 2005, Harrison returned to West Africa for another 6 month journey, before returning to Manhattan in the spring of 2006 to found charity: water.

ABOUT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world's pre-eminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer apparel collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 54 full-line stores in 25 states, three licensed stores in Mexico City, Dubai and Riyadh, 49 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the company's online store, saks.com

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