Shutterstock Gives the Lasting Gift of Clean Water to Arid Regions in Ethiopia

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Shutterstock, the leading global provider of stock images and stock footage by subscription, has made a lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of men, women and children in Northern Ethiopia by providing the life-changing gift of clean, safe drinking water for decades to come.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080910/NYW066LOGO )

New Shutterstock-funded wells throughout the arid Amhara region mean that men such as Muche Alemu no longer have to experience the pain of watching family members, including his own daughter, die from waterborne diseases, which claim the lives of 4,500 children on average worldwide each day. Before Shutterstock's well came to Alemu's village of Casie Chibechiba, he and his family had to walk for hours to a stagnant, murky pond to collect drinking water.

"Water was always our biggest fear because it made our village sick, and there was nothing we could do," said Alemu. "But now, I do not worry anymore. We have no more sickness from water, no more children dying because they cannot find clean water to drink."

Alemu's story is the result of Shutterstock's yearlong partnership with charity: water, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing countries. To date, Shutterstock's wells have helped approximately 1,500 people like Alemu in villages throughout the drought-ridden Amhara region of Northern Ethiopia.

“As a global, socially responsible company, it is important for us to support sustainable projects that make a real difference in the lives of people around the world,” said Jon Oringer, founder and CEO of Shutterstock. “During the holiday season, we encourage our community of buyers and contributors to extend their generosity to those who need it most.”

As always, Shutterstock believes that pictures tell the story best. To see compelling images of Muche Alemu and the Shutterstock-funded well that brought clean, safe drinking water to his village, please visit: http://shutr.bz/water.

About Shutterstock®

Founded in 2003, Shutterstock is an innovative global e-commerce company and a leading provider of stock photos, illustrations, and footage. Shutterstock provides royalty-free content to creative professionals worldwide, specializing in subscription products that are simple and user-friendly. For more information, visit www.Shutterstock.com.

SOURCE Shutterstock