Charity Water Press Kit

charity%3a+water%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cIt%e2%80%99s+hard+not+to+think+about+water+today.+In+the+western+world%2c+we+face+growing+concerns+about+our+stewardship+of+the+world%e2%80%99s+most+precious+resource.+There%e2%80%99s+talk+of+shortages%2c+evidence+of+reservoirs+and+aquifers+drying+up%2c+and+of+course%2c+plenty+of+people+who+simply+don%e2%80%99t+care.+But+forget+about+us.+Most+of+us+have+never+really+been+thirsty.+We%e2%80%99ve+never+had+to+leave+our+houses+and+walk+5+miles+to+fetch+water.+We+simply+turn+on+the+tap%2c+and+water+comes+out.+Clean.+Yet+more+than+1.1+billion+people+on+the+planet+don%e2%80%99t+have+clean+water.+It%e2%80%99s+hard+to+imagine+what+a+billion+people+looks+like+really%2c+but+one+in+six+might+be+easier.+One+in+six+people+in+our+world+don%e2%80%99t+have+access+to+the+most+basic+of+human+needs.+Something+we+can%e2%80%99t+imagine+going+12+hours+without.+Here%2c+we%e2%80%99d+like+to+introduce+you+to+a+few+of+those+billion+people.+They+are+very+real%2c+and+they+need+our+help.+They+didn%e2%80%99t+choose+to+be+born+into+a+village+where+the+only+source+of+water+is+a+polluted+swamp.+And+I+didn%e2%80%99t+choose+to+be+born+in+a+country+where+even+the+homeless+have+access+to+clean+water+and+a+toilet.+I+invite+you+to+put+yourself+in+their+shoes.+Follow+them+on+their+daily+journey.+Carry+80+pounds+of+water+in+yellow+fuel+cans.+Dig+with+their+children+in+sand+for+water.+Line+up+at+a+well+and+wait+8+hours+for+a+turn.+Now%2c+make+a+decision+to+help.+We%e2%80%99re+not+offering+grand+solutions+and+billion+dollar+schemes%2c+but+instead%2c+simple+things+that+work.+Things+like+freshwater+wells%2c+rainwater+catchments+and+sand+filters.+For+about+%2420+a+person%2c+we+know+how+to+help+millions+of+people.+Start+by+helping+one.+-Scott+Harrison%2c+founder%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0ccharity%3a+water+is+a+non-profit+initiative+bringing+clean+water+and+basic+sanitation+into+impoverished+communities.+a+%2420+bottle+can+give+a+person+clean%2c+safe+water+for+20+years.%0d%0a%0d%0a%3d%0d%0a%0d%0acharity%3a+water+works+to+raise+awareness+about+the+world%e2%80%99s+water+crisis+by+educating+the+public+through+multimedia+exhibitions+and+high-profile+events.+to+raise+money+and+promote+intelligent+giving%2c+charity%3a+sells+a+%2420+bottle+of+spring+water.+there%e2%80%99s+nothing+special+about+the+water%2c+except+that+100%25+of+the+proceeds+directly+fund+water+and+sanitation+projects+on+the+ground.%0d%0a%0d%0a%2b%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cwhy.%0d%0a4%2c500+children+die+each+day+from+diseases+caused+by+a+lack+of+safe+drinking+water+and+proper+sanitation.%0d%0ain+sub-Saharan+Africa%2c+a+baby%e2%80%99s+chance+of+dying+from+diarrhea+is+almost+520+times+greater+than+here+in+the+US.+diseases+like+diarrhea+are+caused+by+drinking+contaminated+water%2c+and+kill+more+than+2.2+million+people+each+year.+that%e2%80%99s+the+equivalent+of+20+jumbo+jets+crashing+every+day.+children+under+5+are+the+most+susceptible+to+water-borne+disease%3b+their+developing+bodies+often+fail+to+withstand+the+amount+of+parasites+normally+found+in+contaminated+water+sources.%0d%0acharitywater.org%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cRwanda.%0d%0aI+took+this+picture+an+hour+south+of+Kigali%2c+Rwanda.+The+country+to+the+north+is+lush+and+beautiful-+yet+an+hour+to+the+south%2c+people+are+dying+of+thirst.+Gathering+muddy+water+daily+from+this+ravine+in+20-liter+fuel+cans%2c+they+haul+it+back+to+their+village.+Cow+feces+and+urine+make+this+water+deadly%2c+but+as+most+here+live+on+less+than+%241+a+day%2c+they+can%e2%80%99t+afford+the+charcoal+to+boil+it.%0d%0a%0d%0a-Scott+Harrison%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0caverage+water+use.%0d%0aaverage+american%3a%0d%0a%0d%0a150g%2fday%0d%0a%0d%0aaverage+person+in+a+developing+nation%3a%0d%0a%0d%0a5g%2fday%0d%0a%0d%0a5g%0d%0aan+average+person+in+America+uses+about+150+gallons+of+water+daily+to+cook%2c+clean+and+drink.+An+average+person+in+a+developing+nation+struggles+to+find+5.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cbuilding+a+well.%0d%0aa+freshwater+well+can+cost+%244%2c000+-+%2440%2c000%2c+depending+on+the+region.%0d%0acharity%3a+water+partners+with+local+organizations+on+the+ground+to+build+and+rehabilitate+freshwater+wells.+a+hand-dug+well+in+Liberia+can+cost+%244%2c000+while+a+deep+well+in+Kenya+can+cost+up+to+%2440%2c000.+underground+aquifers+provide+safe%2c+clean+water+and+can+typically+be+reached+by+drilling+down+100+-+300+feet.+when+a+well+is+built%2c+each+community+forms+a+water+committee.+these+committees+are+educated+about+the+importance+of+hand+washing+and+proper+sanitation%2c+and+are+responsible+for+ensuring+that+the+well+stays+clean+and+maintained.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cwater+changes+everything.%0d%0awells+transform+communities.+preventable+waterborne+diseases+are+drastically+decreased.+long+walks+to+muddy+rivers+and+swamps+are+no+longer+necessary.+time+spent+collecting+water+is+reduced%2c+offering+women+a+chance+to+earn+an+income+and+children+a+chance+to+get+an+education.+wells+bring+people+together+and+offer+improved+health%2c+a+better+quality+of+life%2c+and+hope+for+a+better+future.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cin+our+first+year.%0d%0awe+have+268+wells+in+progress%2c+96+of+which+are+complete+and+serving+clean+water+to+communities+in+8+african+nations.+when+all+268+are+finished%2c+they+will+provide+safe+water+to+an+estimated+150%2c000%2b+people.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cyear+one.+268+wells+in+progress.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cproving+it+with%0d%0acharity%3a+water+proves+every+well+built+using+photos%2c+video%2c+and+GPS+coordinates+plotted+in+Google+Earth.+volunteers+and+staff+visit+completed+projects+on+an+ongoing+basis+and+bring+back+proof+of+the+work+being+done.+charity%3a+water+found+its+initial+project+partners+through+Charity+Navigator%2c+America%e2%80%99s+largest+independent+non-profit+evaluator.+4-star+charities+were+selected+to+implement+our+water+and+sanitation+projects+on+the+ground%2c+ensuring+their+extensive+experience+and+expertise+in+water+%26+sanitation+as+well+as+in+the+customs%2c+culture+and+terrain+of+each+country.+working+with+these+organizations+has+also+given+us+the+opportunity+to+support+growing+economies+by+employing+local+drillers+and+workers.%0d%0a%0d%0acharitywater.org%2fmap%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cCENTRE-SANTE-BAYANGA+C.A.R.%0d%0a%0d%0aSERVES+524+PEOPLE%0d%0a%0d%0aJean+Massiengue+is+36+years+old.+His+words+are+powerful%2c+%e2%80%9cWater+is+health.+Water+is+the+way+that+shuts+down+different+bad+sicknesses.+Water+from+the+well+is+the+way+that+nature+can+heal+its+own+water+in+our+bush+sources.+When+we+are+healthy%2c+we+can+work+to+receive+food+that+helps+us+mature+properly.+When+well+from+the+pump+doesn%e2%80%99t+work%2c+the+household+doesn%e2%80%99t+walk+well.+Patients%2c+workers%2c+and+all+the+hospital+work+equipment+all+relies+on+water.%22Living+Water+%2f+ICDI+Drilling%0d%0a%0d%0aKENYA+-+KAMPIYAMOTO+PRIMARY+SCHOOL%0d%0aWe+wake+up+to+a+glass+of+water+without+thinking+of+how+it+came+to+us.+What+if+we+had+to+walk+for+half+an+hour+to+fetch+5+gallons+of+polluted+water+for+our+families%3f+We+would+miss+work%2c+school%2c+our+appointments.+How+would+we+feel+if+we+had+to+watch+our+children+drink+water+that+is+likely+to+make+them+sick%3f+There+are+schools+in+Kenya+that+don't+have+access+to+clean+water.+Together%2c+we+can+help+them.+This+page+is+dedicated+to+raising+funds+and+awareness+of+this+most+basic+need.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0ccharity%3a+launch.%0d%0aa+party+in+New+York%2c+and+a+party+in+Uganda.%0d%0awe+launched+charity%3a+water+along+with+the+opening+of+a+brand+new+NYC+venue%2c+TenJune%2c+on+September+7%2c+2006.+%2415%2c000+was+raised+that+night%2c+and+everyone+got+a+bottle+of+charity%3a+water+at+the+door.+we+immediately+took+the+money+back+and+built+6+wells+in+a+refugee+camp+called+Bobi+in+Northern+Uganda.+31%2c638+people+who+used+to+share+a+single+contaminated+pond+now+had+a+chance+at+health.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0ccharity%3a+launch.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c2nd+annual+charity%3a+ball%0d%0athe+2nd+annual+charity%3a+ball+gala+was+held+at+the+Metropolitan+Pavilion+in+NYC.+over+1%2c000+guests+attended+and+%24500%2c000+was+raised+in+one+night.%0d%0athe+exhibition+aimed+to+educate+and+engage+viewers%2c+connecting+them+first+hand+to+the+people+and+communities+we+are+trying+to+help.+throughout+the+night%2c+guests+were+given+various+ways+to+donate+through+the+live+%26+silent+auction%2c+merchandise+sales+and+the+waterwalk.+the+event+was+hosted+by+Entourage+star+Adrien+Grenier+and+Jessica+Stam.+a+special+live+performance+by+Cat+Power+and+Chaka+Khan+concluded+the+evening.%0d%0acharitywater.org%2fcharityball%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cthe+2nd+annual+charity%3a+ball%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cthe+public+service+announcement.%0d%0aoscar+winner+Jennifer+Connelly%2c+Hotel+Rwanda+director+Terry+George%2c+and+awardwinning+cinematographer+Ellen+Kuras+volunteered+their+time+to+shoot+our+PSA.%0d%0aimagine+if+New+York%e2%80%99s+taps+ran+dry.+What+would+we+do%3f+We%e2%80%99d+probably+walk+through+the+streets+in+search+of+the+nearest+water+source%2c+in+this+case+Central+Park+Pond%2c+and+have+no+choice+but+to+bring+the+water+home+to+serve+to+our+families%2c+to+cook%2c+clean+and+drink.+This+60+second+short+allows+us+to+imagine+for+a+moment+what+life+without+clean+water+would+be+like+in+New+York+City.%0d%0a%0d%0acharitywater.org%2fpsa%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cthe+public+service+announcement%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cthe+parks+exhibition.%0d%0aon+September+22%2c+2006%2c+we+toured+5+of+New+York+City%e2%80%99s+top+parks%2c+including+Union+Square+and+Colombus+Circle%2c+with+a+10-day+outdoor+exhibition.%0d%0aNew+Yorkers+are+lucky+to+have+the+best+filtered+tap+water+in+the+country.+we+took+samples+of+water+from+the+East+River%2c+the+Hudson%2c+ponds+in+New+Jersey+and+Long+Island+and+showed+people+what+their+water+would+look+like+if+they+were+forced+to+rely+on+a+local+water+source.%0d%0a%0d%0a%0cthe+parks+exhibition%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c4%2c500+children+will+die+today+from+water+related+illnesses.%0d%0a%0d%0acharitywater.org%2fpress%0d%0a%0d%0a%0ccharity%3a+press.%0d%0acharity%3a+water+has+been+published+in+40%2b+publications.+Many+donated+free+ad+space+to+help+raise+awareness+about+the+issue%2c+others+contributed+by+writing+about+our+work.%0d%0a%0d%0acharitywater.org%2fpress%0d%0a%0d%0a%0ccharitywater.org%2fpress%0d%0a%0d%0a%0ccharitywater.org%2fpress%0d%0a%0d%0a%0ccharitywater.org%2fpress%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cyou+can+help+us+provide+clean%2c+safe+water+to+people+in+need.+if+you%e2%80%99re+a+hotel%2c+consider+offering+your+guests+the+chance+to+donate+by+placing+a+bottle+of+charity%3a+water+in+each+room.+if+you+own+a+boutique+or+shop%2c+you+can+help+us+raise+money+by+selling+water+in+your+store.+Here+are+some+examples+of+what+people+have+done+in+the+past+to+help+charity%3a+raise+money%3a+the+Soho+house+in+NYC+put+a+bottle+of+charity%3a+water+in+each+room+for+the+holiday+season+and+raised+%248%2c000.+a+tax+accountant+asked+every+one+of+his+clients+to+donate+during+tax+season+and+raised+%2460%2c000+for+wells+in+Liberia.+a+couple+in+Stockholm+ran+the+Stockholm+marathon+and+asked+their+friends+and+family+to+sponsor+them.+they+raised+%246%2c000+and+built+a+well+in+Central+African+Republic.+a+middle+school+in+Zurich+took+charity%3a+water+on+as+their+school+project+and+raised+%241200%2b.+a+couple+included+charity%3a+water+in+their+wedding+registry+and+raised+1%2c600.+a+designer+in+New+York+volunteered+his+spacious+loft+for+an+event+to+raise+money+for+wells+in+Rwanda%2c+and+with+a+dedicated+crew+of+25+volunteers%2c+we+planned+an+unforgettable+evening+that+raised+%24105%2c000+for+wells.+an+8+year+old+kid+in+Los+Angeles+showed+our+DVD+to+friends+and+family+and+raised+%241%2c000+in+donations.+a+high+school+in+Denver+hosted+a+concert+fundraiser+and+raised+%241%2c800.+if+you%e2%80%99re+one+person%2c+an+organization%2c+a+school+or+a+city%2c+you+can+help.+every+little+bit+counts%2c+and+100%25+of+it+will+go+directly+to+helping+those+in+need.+to+find+out+how+you+can+help%2c+email+info%40charitywater.org%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c%0cin+new+York%0d%0aScott+Harrison+founder+1+646+733+8744+scott%40charitywater.org+Viktoria+Alexeeva+web+%26+media+1+917+622+2602+viktoria%40charitywater.org+Rebecca+Straw+office+%26+project+manager+1+925+323+2477+rebecca.straw%40charitywater.org%0d%0a%0d%0ain+London%0d%0aMarissa+Sackler+manager+of+development+0+7801+414+841+marissa.sackler%40charitywater.org+Jenny+Holt+trustee+%26+media%0d%0a%0d%0aour+officeS%0d%0aNew+York+150+Varick+Street+5th+floor+New+York%2c+NY+10013+1+646+688+2323+London%0d%0a%0d%0a0+7786+622+340+jenny.holt%40charitywater.org+Luke+Beauchamp+trustee+%26+treasurer+0+7770+914+117+luke.beauchamp%40charitywater.org%0d%0a%0d%0ac%2fo+CG2+LTD+2nd+floor%2c+Linton+House+24+Wells+street+London+W1T3PH%0d%0a%0d%0apHotograpHY%0d%0aScott+Harrison+Simon+Willows+Chris+Pereira%0d%0a%0d%0a%0c