RYAN'S WELL FOUNDATION AND THE H2O AFRICA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP FOR CLEAN WATER

Kemptville, ON (May 29, 2007) - The Ryan's Well Foundation and the H2O Africa Foundation, founded by Matt Damon in conjunction with the Running the Sahara expedition and documentary, have established a partnership to further their shared goal to provide clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene education for children and families in the water scarce regions of Africa. This partnership, based on the ideal of clean water for all, will engage and mobilize youth to become global citizens for clean water, develop greater awareness and raise economic resources to aid the water crisis in Africa.

The partnership will begin with construction of water access points in addition to provision of improved sanitation and hygiene education in 20 primary schools in northern Uganda. Through a matching funds initiative, Ryan's Well and H2O Africa will invest more than $200,000 throughout 2007 in this project to improve health, well-being, educational opportunity - and to save lives. Both organizations look to the future to expand their shared work for clean water in Saharan Africa, namely to those water scarce countries where the amazing Running the Sahara expedition took place.

"H2O Africa will focus on the development of sustainable, integrated water programs," said Paul Brooks, Chairman of H2O Africa. "We are targeting initiatives that will affect positive change for the long run and complement other activity in the region, such as education and infrastructure development - like water purification systems at schools, which provides clean water for children and encourages parents to bring their kids to school."

H2O Africa Founder and Spokesman Matt Damon noted, "Ryan's Well Foundation has become a model organization in the campaign for clean water, and in the youth philanthropy movement in general. We're excited about the work and impact of Ryan's Well Foundation, and are pleased to have them as our lead partner in our campaign to engage students like Ryan all around the world."

"I think that working with H20 Africa is fantastic!" says Ryan Hreljac, founder of the Ryan's Well Foundation. "We share the same purpose of clean water for Africa. Working with H20 Africa will not only help bring clean water and sanitation to thousands more people but it will also raise awareness and inspire more people, especially young people here in the developed world, to figure out where their puzzle piece fits in the world and to take action. Working with Matt Damon and H20 Africa will help us achieve what many thought was impossible."

Ryan's Well Foundation and H2O Africa are privileged to work together to make a positive difference in communities across Africa. The documentary film Running the Sahara will bring the eyes of the world to the Sahara and the many communities through which the ultra marathoners, including runner and adventure racer Ray Zahab of Chelsea, Québec, traveled. This experience will illustrate the impact of the global water crisis has on millions of people, in Africa and across the globe.

The H2O Africa Foundation has a mission to create widespread public awareness of the water crisis in Africa and gather support and funding for integrated sustainable clean water programs in critical areas. Oversight of the H2O Africa programs and initiatives will be through partnerships with major non-governmental organizations as well as progress-based grant agreements. Donors can be part of groups that are adopting specific communities to ensure that they have safe water there. Every dollar contributed by donors goes to the work in the field.

Ryan's Well Foundation is a registered Canadian charity with a mission to provide clean water, improved sanitation and related hygiene education for citizens of water scarce regions in developing countries through engagement with local partner organizations. While the Foundation was first formed in 2001, Ryan Hreljac began his quest for clean water when he was 6 years old. Now at 16, Ryan, his family and his Foundation aim to educate individuals, schools, corporations and other community organizations locally and internationally to create awareness and raise funds for water related issues. The Foundation strives to motivate present and future leaders to take action to realize their own global citizenship. To date, Ryan's vision has resulted in 266 water access points in 12 developing countries, providing clean water to over 435,000 people.

Global Youth Initiative for Clean Water [Ryan's Well Foundation]

For further information please contact:

H20 Africa Foundation
Keith Quinn
310-664-2422

Ryan's Well Foundation
Julie Truelove
613-258-6832
julie@ryanswell.ca

or visit:

Ryan's Well Foundation website: www.ryanswell.ca
Running the Sahara Expedition website: www.runningthesahara.com