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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><img width="215" height="85" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CD717E.9E489FB0" alt="Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CD6F0B.85A8FBA0"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">K’NAAN Rallies the World to Cheer for Somali Olympians</span></b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><img width="213" height="284" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image004.jpg@01CD717E.F6E3E1C0" alt="Description: Description: \\fileserver01\Shared\Press Here\ACTIVE PROJECTS\K'naan\Country God or The Girl\Art\approved art\Knaan general press image LR.jpg"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">MINNEAPOLIS, MN, August 3, 2012</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">—Somali-born musician<b> K’NAAN</b> is
rallying the world to cheer on the Somali Olympic Team through a new Facebook campaign.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">They are runners Zamzam Mohamud Farah and Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, who have trained on a dirt track in Somalia, ignored death threats, and have received almost no
investment. “Let's do whatever we can to support (them),” <b>K’NAAN</b> said. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">K’naan is inviting more than 50,000 people from 80 countries to join a new Facebook campaign. Online fans from around the world are asked to add “rings of hope”
to a paper chain by cheering for the Somali Olympians on the <b>I AM A STAR </b>
Facebook page. Rings from virtual fans will be added to a paper chain by volunteers in Minnesota, home to North America’s largest Somali community. When 50,000 new likes, posts and shares are reached, the
<b>American Refugee Committee</b> will receive a $50,000 check from a sponsor for aid relief in Somalia.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Best known for his song “Wavin’ Flag,” which became the anthem for the 2010 World Cup,
<b>K’NAAN</b> traveled to Mogadishu and saw the need firsthand at Banadir Hospital, a facility for women and children that was in deplorable condition. Some children slept on the floor because there weren’t enough beds. Sanitation was sorely lacking, and
there wasn’t enough medical staff or medicine to treat the sick. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Somalia is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world – and one of the most complex. More than 2.5 million people are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
Families don’t have enough food to feed their children. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">The
<b>American Refugee Committee</b> is working in Mogadishu, providing lifesaving care like food, clean water and medical care. Far too many families remain in camps for the displaced in Mogadishu, unable to return home.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">“In Somalia, I saw people suffering insecurity ...famine.... all these destructive elements. But right alongside that, what I saw was the will, the determination,
the empathy, and the compassion of the Somali people,” added K’NAAN. “Let’s all be in solidarity with Somalia.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">How to Help</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">To cheer for Somalia – and raise $1 for aid relief – visit
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia">www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia</a><span style="color:black">.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">More Information<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Photos:
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archq">http://www.flickr.com/photos/archq</a><span style="color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Press Kit:
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext"><a href="http://www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/PressKit_OlympicsCampaign2012">www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/PressKit_OlympicsCampaign2012</a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:windowtext">Press Kit:
<a href="http://www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/presskit_olympicscampaign.pdf">http://www.arcrelief.org/files/iamastar/presskit_olympicscampaign.pdf</a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">About K’NAAN</span></b><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">With his eloquent and thought-provoking lyrics,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in the tradition of great folk singers and
protest songs, K’NAAN carved a new path that widened the traditional hip-hop music perspective. With his sophomore album, K’NAAN was declared an “Artist to Watch” by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Rolling Stone, NPR, The Los Angeles Times</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>MTV</i>.
The album included his multiplatinum single <b>“Wavin’ Flag,” </b>which saw worldwide success after being selected by
<b>Coca-Cola </b>as their theme song for their<b> FIFA 2010 FIFA World Cup™ </b>campaign. Declared the “People’s Anthem” with its message of hope and solidarity, the single reached
<b>#1</b> in over <b>18 countries</b> and also topped <b>Billboard’s European Hot 100 Singles</b> chart. In addition, K’NAAN has won a variety of awards including four
<b><u>Junos</u></b> including <u>Artist of the Year</u> and <u>Songwriter of the Year</u> and was also nominated for a
<b><u>Polaris Music Prize</u>, as well as a <u>BBC Newcomer of the Year</u> </b>award. The artist has guested on multiple notable projects including Nas and Damian Marley’s
<u>Distant Relatives</u>, Keane and Mos Def. K’NAAN’s new album, <b><u>Country, God Or The Girl</u></b>, is set to be released in October 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">About I AM A STAR</span></b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">“I AM A STAR”, a grassroots platform to take action for Somalia, is a program of the American Refugee Committee (ARC), a humanitarian aid organization that provides
basic health care, shelter, clean water and other lifesaving care. Based in Minneapolis, ARC helps nearly 2.5 million refugees a year – mostly vulnerable women and children. ARC is also providing humanitarian relief in Somalia. To learn more, visit
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="http://www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia">www.facebook.com/IAMASTARforSomalia</a><span style="color:black"> or
</span><a href="http://www.ARCrelief.org">www.ARCrelief.org</a><span style="color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">For More Information on
<b>K’NAAN</b> Please Contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Carleen Donovan // Angela Burke // Katie Leggett at PRESS HERE:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">212-246-2640<span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:carleen@pressherepublicity.com">carleen@pressherepublicity.com</a>
<a href="mailto:angela@pressherepublicity.com">angela@pressherepublicity.com</a>
<a href="mailto:katie@pressherepublicity.com">katie@pressherepublicity.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">For More Information on the
<b>ARC</b> Please Contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">Therese Gales at the American Refugee Committee<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">612-607-6494 //
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="mailto:ThereseG@archq.org">ThereseG@archq.org</a><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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