St. Louis, MO – Today, Governor Matt Blunt and St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay joined ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History by proclaiming Missouri a “State of ONE” and St. Louis a “City of ONE.”  At an event held on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis and attended by faith leaders, students, professors and Missouri officials from both parties, Governor Blunt and Mayor Slay spoke to the issues important to the almost 40,000 ONE members in Missouri and the millions from across the country.  In addition to raising awareness about the tragedy and danger of extreme global poverty and disease, Blunt and Slay also encouraged other Missouri officials, educators and citizens to get involved with ONE and take action for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

“I am proud to announce that Missouri is now a State of ONE in the fight against extreme global poverty,” said Governor Matt Blunt. “Education is my highest priority as Missouri’s governor because it is one of the most important investments we can make for our state’s future.  However, as we make critical investments in Missouri classrooms we remember that many children around the world have no chance to go to school, to the detriment of their futures and their communities. Without a basic education, ignorance, despair and extremism takes hold.  I am encouraging Missourians to do what they can to help by getting involved in the ONE campaign.

“For Missouri mayors and educators, I encourage them to consider getting involved with the ONE proclamation effort and making a similar declaration for their cities, schools and campuses,” said Governor Blunt in his “State of ONE” proclamation.”

ONE is a campaign powered by millions of Americans from all 50 states and a coalition of more than 100 of the nation’s leading non-profit, religious and charitable groups who advocate strategic, cost-effective and proven solutions to battle global disease and brutal poverty.  ONE members urge Congress to prioritize policies that reduce hunger and increase access to basic education, clean water and lifesaving medicines for the world’s poorest people.

This summer, ONE also launched an initiative called ONE Vote ’08, an unprecedented, non-partisan campaign to save lives and secure America’s future by energizing presidential candidates to make the fight against hunger and preventable disease a key foreign policy issue in the 2008 election. ONE Vote ’08 is running aggressive grassroots and media campaigns in each of the early primary states-Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina-with the help of experienced Republican and Democratic campaign mangers and strategists.  ONE Vote ’08 will work throughout the primary season and the general election to raise awareness about global poverty and win a historic commitment from the next president of the United States to fight it like never before.

ONE Board Co-Chairman and political strategist Jack Oliver explains, “This campaign reflects the very best of what America is all about – helping people who are less fortunate than us. We have a huge task before us to educate and mobilize people. With leaders like Governor Blunt and Mayor Slay on board, it’s clear the movement is building in stature and in numbers.”

“I’m here today to tell my community that there are ways to help,” said Mayor Francis G. Slay. “What we do in our local communities to affect the lives of the less fortunate can bring about real change. ONE was created to let people know how simple it is to make a difference, and I’m proud to recognize this important campaign and encourage others to join this movement.”

ONE member Stephanie Koh organized the event during her summer break and in between college classes at Washington University. Koh said, “These issues are too important to ignore. I want to be sure that my elected officials and the candidates running to be my next president know that I care about global extreme poverty and preventable disease. Students will play a key role in determining who will become the next president which is why we are organizing around these issues now.”

“Growing up in West  Africa, ailments such as Malaria are a fact of life, and I have witnessed the disease firsthand,” said E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of African/African-American Theatre Dr. Niyi Coker. “Right now, 30,000 children under the age of five die each day from treatable, preventable diseases. We have the ability to save these kids and we should. ONE and ONE Vote ’08 are making sure that future generations will not be susceptible to diseases that can be easily eradicated.”

“As we are demonstrating today, no matter the political affiliation or religious background, we all have a tremendous responsibility to take action and influence our leaders and the next president by learning and talking about these issues, said Reverend Dr. Clinton McCann.

Missouri will be the country’s ninth state declared State of ONE and St. Louis joins 119 Cities of ONE and three ONE Campuses. New Madrid recently gave Missouri its first City of ONE. Missouri has almost 40,000 ONE members.