Marcus Samuelsson Fights For Clean Water For All

Marcus Samuelsson — renowned chef, TV personality, and Harlem restaurateur — is partnering with Stella Artois and Water.org to speak out about an issue close to his heart: global access to clean water. Stella Artois' "Buy a Lady a Drink" campaign highlights access to clean, safe water, especially for young women.

Samuelsson is hosting an exclusive event and tasting at the Sundance Film Festival called "From Well to Table: The Global Water Crisis Through the Lens of Culture and Cuisine" featuring cuisine from some of the most clean-water-deprived countries in the world like Ethiopia, Brazil, and Peru. At the event, Samuelsson, along with Water.org activists Matt Damon and Gary White, will lead an interactive discussion and food tasting to raise awareness of this important issue.

"As someone who was born in Ethiopia, I see how the struggle for water impacts young girls," Samuelsson told The Daily Meal. "In some countries, they have to walk an hour, maybe an hour and a half to get water and anything could happen to them along the way."

Water.org and Stella Artois have come up with a new goal together: Provide 3.5 million people with long-term, sustainable access to clean water by 2020.

"I think we can make a difference," Samuelsson said. "Everyone can help out, whether it's taking a shorter shower or using tap water instead of bottled water, there are so many ways to raise awareness."