BLUE PLANET RUN FOUNDATION

Overview

Blue Planet Run Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to raising global awareness about the lack of safe drinking water, and funding working solutions today for the billion people living without ready access to this life sustaining resource.

Mission

Create global awareness of the world’s safe drinking water crisis, and mobilize citizens of the world to solve the problem, today.

History

Since 2004, the Blue Planet Run Foundation has funded 11 non-governmental organizations worldwide which have in turn implemented 135 sustainable water projects in 13 countries impacting 100 thousand lives.

Program

Our main programs are the global Blue Planet Run event and the Peer Water Exchange.

Every two years, the Blue Planet Run Foundation will organize a global run to raise funds and awareness about the safe drinking water crisis.

The Peer Water Exchange (PWX), developed by the Blue Planet Run Foundation, is a revolutionary, grassroots, online community where donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and observers work together to democratically manage and monitor rural water projects worldwide.

Impact

We aim to provide safe drinking water to 20 million people worldwide by 2015 and 200 million people by 2027.

Goals This Year

1) Provide safe drinking water to 20 million people worldwide by 2015 and 200 million people by 2027.
2) Keep world attention focused on the safe drinking water crisis by organizing a Blue Planet Run event every two years.

Chief Executive

Matt Kursh

Chief Executive Profile

Matt Kursh is the Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Planet Run Foundation (BPRF), overseeing strategy and operations, driving the Foundation’s efforts to deliver safe drinking water to 200 million people by 2027.

As a seasoned entrepreneur, Kursh’s skills include business and product conception, fundraising, marketing, development management, strategic business development and mergers & acquisitions.

Kursh began his career as president and co-founder of Clearview Software, which was purchased by Apple Computer in 1989. Kursh then co-founded and was CEO of eShop Corporation, one of the first companies to offer platforms and services for online shopping. eShop's customers included such leading companies as AT&T, Tower Records, Spiegel, 1-800-Flowers and Good Guys. eShop was acquired by Microsoft in 1996.

Kursh went on to serve as General Manger at Microsoft in charge of msn.com as well as Sidewalk and Home Advisor. At Microsoft, Kursh was a principal in developing the company's overall e-commerce strategy and negotiated key deals such as Microsoft's sale of Sidewalk to USA Networks.

Kursh left Microsoft in early 2000 to focus on creative projects and to work with start-up companies. He has served on the boards of DailyShopper, 9MSN, and PhotoWorks, and is currently Chairman of Cozi Group.

Board

Alfonso Alem Rojo
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley
Karl-Henrik Robert, M.D., Ph.D.
Peggy Dulany
Matt Kursh

Countries of Operation

Afghanistan, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Viet Nam, Yemen

States of Operation

California