Disaster Relief Charity, ShelterBox USA, to be Highlighted on the ABC Show Shark Tank
Sarasota, FL (PRWEB) January 05, 2016 -- International disaster relief charity, ShelterBox, will be highlighted on the ABC hit show Shark Tank on January 8, 2016. Shark Tank viewers will get an update on the LuminAID inflatable solar light invention which made its debut on the investment reality show last year. The segment will demonstrate how the solar lights are used on the front lines of disaster situations, with the founders traveling with ShelterBox to Malawi, where the 2015 flooding ravaged the country and displaced hundreds of thousands. Nearly one year later, survivors in Malawi are slowing rebuilding their lives with assistance from ShelterBox, which has provided hundreds of its aid boxes, each containing a disaster relief tent, blanket, ground sheets, tools kit, cooking set, water filtration unit, in addition to the LuminAID emergency solar lights which have been distributed to families that have lost everything from the flooding.
In 2015, LuminAID co-founders Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta pitched their idea for sustainable and durable solar lanterns to Shark Tank, receiving offers from all five Sharks. A deal was reached with businessman, Mark Cuban, who invested $200,000 for 15% equity stake in the company. When asked why Cuban chose LuminAID as one of his Shark Tank investments, he remarked, "I look for smart people, a product that is unique in some way and something that fills a particular need for society. LuminAID is an example of an innovation that solves a problem for society." To date, LuminAid lights have been distributed to charitable projects in more than 50 countries.
Two years prior to LuminAID attracting the attention of Shark Tank, it was recognized by the NGO community for supplying solar lights to humanitarian organizations, including ShelterBox and Doctors without Borders. “In a disaster situation, it is the basic human needs that must be critically addressed: Shelter, Water, Food, and Health. The collaboration with LuminAid is important as ShelterBox looks for innovative products that further the mission of providing shelter and essential supplies for people in crisis situations. After a disaster, darkness can be challenging and dangerous. LuminAIDs are lightweight, fit easily in a ShelterBox, provide up to 16 hours of light on one charge, and give much needed safety and security,” notes ShelterBox USA President, Kerri Murray. “The solar lights are a critical item in the ShelterBoxes, enabling people to work, cook, and navigate safely within the community at night.”
About ShelterBox:
Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth, and dignity following more than 270 disasters in over 90 countries. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquake, volcano, flood, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, or conflict by delivering boxes of essential aid and other supplies. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, a stove, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival. ShelterBox USA is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida. ShelterBox is an official Project Partner of Rotary International. Tax-deductible donations to the organization can be made at http://www.ShelterBoxUSA.org or by calling (941) 907-6036.
About LuminAID:
LuminAID develops innovative, solar-powered products for humanitarian relief aid and outdoor recreation. The company’s first product, the LuminAID light, is a solar-powered, inflatable lamp that packs flat and inflates to create a lightweight, waterproof lantern suitable for outdoor recreation and emergency situations. LuminAID lights have been sold to individuals in more than 70 different countries, and charitable projects with NGO partners have put more than 15,000 donated lights on-the-ground in more than 50 countries including Haiti, Nepal and the Philippines. LuminAID was featured on ABC's Shark Tank, received offers from all five "sharks," and made a deal with the billionaire investor Mark Cuban in 2015 (http://markcubancompanies.com/sharktank.html).
Chris Alexander, ShelterBox USA, http://www.shelterboxusa.org, +1 941-907-6036 Ext: 102, [email protected]
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