David Cook Donates New Single to Help Girl Up Transform Lives

To help the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up campaign reach its goal of raising funds for 2,000 Somali refugee girls in Ethiopia, RCA Recording Artist and Season 7 American Idol Winner, David Cook, is donating a free download of his new single, We Believe, to those who give to Girl Up this holiday season. The song was inspired by Cook’s 2010 trip to Ethiopia with the United Nations Foundation.  During the trip, Cook visited the United Nations’ Biruh Tesfa (Bright Future) Project and saw firsthand the challenges adolescent girls face in many parts of the world.

“As part of Idol Gives Back, I was able to travel to Ethiopia with the United Nations Foundation and witness firsthand how girls are struggling to overcome poverty,” said David Cook. “Going to Ethiopia inspired me to give back through my music, which is why I’m donating a free download of ‘We Believe,’ a song that was inspired by my trip, to every person who gives to Girl Up.”

Girl Up, a grassroots campaign that helps American girls channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for their sisters in developing countries, is asking supporters to help Somali refugee girls who live in the Jijiga refugee camp. Learn more about UNHCR’s refugee work in Ethiopia here. With the help of Girl Up, the UN is working to ensure that Somali refugee girls in Ethiopia are healthy, safe and educated. Girls receive school materials, solar lamps to study at night, and scholarships to attend school. The program also builds toilets and creates access to water in schools in order to keep learning environments safe and healthy.

“The UN Foundation and Girl Up are grateful to David Cook for his commitment to bringing attention to the needs of adolescent girls and the simple ways people can help,” said Aaron Sherinian, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations for the UN Foundation. “With his generous donation of We Believe, David reminds us that each of us has a role to play in helping the UN and can dedicate our unique talent and resources to change the world.”  Teen Advisor Avery McCall adds, “Having someone as amazing as David Cook donate a song for Girl Up is an incredible gesture. Never forget that every dollar donated will make a big impact in a girl’s life.”

Girl Up is encouraging supporters to donate $25 to help make the difference in the life of a girl. To donate to Girl Up and receive a free download of We Believe, go to girlup.org/donate.

Tweet this: Ready 2 change a girl’s life? Donate 2 @GirlUp and get a free download of @thedavidcook’s song “We believe”! http://bit.ly/tuIMtc

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About Girl Up
Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, gives American girls ages 13-18 the opportunity to channel their energy and compassion to raise awareness and funds for programs of the United Nations that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls. Through Girl Up’s support, girls have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted and positioned to be the next generation of leaders. Teen supporters are encouraged to give a “High Five” to girls in developing countries by donating $5 or more to provide girls with such basic needs as access to school supplies, clean water, life-saving health services, safety from violence and more. Founding campaign partners include GirlsUp, Viacom, National Coalition of Girls’ Schools, Women’s National Basketball Association, Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry, Girls Inc., and 10×10. Go to GirlUp.org to learn more.

About the United Nations Foundation 
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities.  The UN Foundation builds and implements public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through campaigns and partnerships, the organization connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.  The campaigns reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes.  These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.