The Livity Foundation, a Charleston-based nonprofit with deep Jamaican roots, has partnered with Water Mission to restore access to clean drinking water for residents of Falmouth, Jamaica, following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. The Category 5 storm devastated the region’s infrastructure, leaving thousands without safe water and other basic necessities.
In response to the crisis in Falmouth, The Livity Foundation and Water Mission worked alongside community leaders to install two emergency safe water treatment systems along the Martha Brae River. Once fully operational, the systems will provide clean, reliable drinking water to as many as 10,000 people each day.
Charleston native Dave “Big Hair” Brisacher, founder of The Livity Foundation and a member of The Dubplates, whose album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Reggae chart, said his roots made the mission personal. Brisacher and Ky-Mani Marley, Grammy-nominated musician and son of the legendary Bob Marley, formed a close friendship after meeting during a 2017 performance in the Outer Banks, a relationship that has fueled a partnership and Marley’s support for Livity’s mission and its community work in both the U.S. and his homeland of Jamaica.
“Falmouth is home to so many people we love. When we saw how hard Hurricane Melissa hit and how families were left without something as basic as clean water, we knew we had to act. Partnering with Water Mission allowed us to combine our passion and our connections to move quickly and bring relief to the community,” Brisacher said.
“We are grateful for our partnership with The Livity Foundation,” said Brock Kreitzberg, senior director of disaster response for Water Mission. “Their relationships in Jamaica and familiarity with the people and community allowed us to accelerate our response. We’re excited to share that clean water is now flowing for the people of Falmouth.”
To sustain and expand the safe water treatment systems, The Livity Foundation is working to raise $50,000 and asking the community to support this urgent cause. These funds will help cover installation costs, ongoing operation and continued support for the community as it recovers.
The Livity Foundation grew out of Brisacher and Marley’s shared passion for music, culture and community. That connection led to the first Marley Cup on Daniel Island in 2018, an event that blends music, sports, and philanthropy, inspired in part by Marley’s leadership and support of Falmouth United Football Club.
Motivated by the Marley family’s Love Over All initiative, Brisacher envisioned a way to bring that same spirit of unity and uplift into tangible, local impact. The result was The Livity Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising funds for grassroots causes through creative, joyful experiences such as the immersive Kulture Klash event. With a drive to make philanthropy fun, Livity supports both stateside and Jamaican communities through the arts, wellness, athletics and environmental initiatives.
Both Water Mission and The Livity Foundation are headquartered at the historic Charleston Naval Base, making their partnership a natural fit rooted in shared proximity and purpose. Livity operates out of Building 64 at Navy Yard Charleston, an adaptive reuse project transforming a portion of the former Base into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood, where Brisacher leads the production of community-driven events, including the immersive Kulture Klash event, that fuel the organization’s mission and fundraising efforts. Brisacher credits Jamestown, WECCO Development, and Weaver Capital Partners, the joint venture partners leading the redevelopment of Navy Yard Charleston, for positioning Building 64 as a cultural hub.
Community members can support this emergency response effort by attending Kulture Klash, The Livity Foundation’s annual fundraising event, on Saturday, Nov. 22, or by making a donation at thelivityfoundation.org.
Kulture Klash will take place from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Building 64, Navy Yard, 2301 Noisette Blvd., North Charleston, and will feature a special performance by Darryl McDaniels (DMC) of Run-DMC, one of the most recognizable names in hip-hop. Tickets range from $35 to $100.