Archive for the ‘Fund/Awareness Raisers’ Category
We want better water
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
Not even 1 month back I was driving a SUV through the crowded highways and byways of South India. I was trying to keep up with my friend Prasanna who himself was driving an SUV but doing about 15 mph faster than me which doesn’t seem like a lot but when you are already doing 60 -65 mph in posted areas of 35 and you are dodging kids, animals, motorcycles and hoping not to meet a bus or larger truck going the wrong direction, that extra 10 – 15mph makes a huge difference. Call me an idiot for wanting to drive in the first place but really, driving in India is fun and chasing Prasanna is even more fun; think NASCAR and your chasing Jimmy Johnson in your Toyota.
Ok, enough of this but I was driving fast and enjoying most of the experience primarily because I had the AC going full blast, music was playing and a cold 2 liter bottle of water resting in the center console. Having the opportunity to take a drink whenever I wanted was magnificent and never really thought about until I got outside and again experienced the rush of hot, humid, Indian summer heat.
We finally rolled into a village which Prasanna was taking us to because in this place they requested water and according to Prasanna it was a needy tribal area so I decided to shoot some video to give you the reader a glimpse of what I experienced. I have edited a lot out as who wants to sit through 20 minutes of video listening to people you can’t understand? So I give you just 5 minutes I think and in this 5 minutes you will see and hear the need. This place unfortunately is typical of many places requesting water. I will say though that at least they have water. Many places in which we carry out our work there isn’t water in the village suitable for drinking. The suitable water is some distance from their dwelling and a considerable amount of time is spent each day in water collection for that day.
My goal in capturing this video is to just bring awareness to how millions of people live each and every day. The reality for this is harsh compared to us. They struggle to survive, we, better yet, I, struggle to find something to drink cold enough to satisfy my whim. For these rural people, they struggle to find just plain water safe enough to use without fear of sickness.
Village needing water (Click on the link to watch the video.)
For this village and countless others, money is all that is needed and not much of it. For less than $2,000 I can outfit this village with a hand pump water project and villages just like it. All I need is your help, your money. Do you want to change a life and make a real difference? Give me some cash and I will change a village with something as simple as water.
Shawnee Rotary Club Event
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
The Shawnee KS Rotary Club has an upcoming event on Saturday, September 11 called Sunset in the Park and Wells for Life® has been chosen as the club’s International partnering organization for a portion of the funds raised during this event.
I am inviting anyone and everyone to this event, see the attached flyer by clicking on Sunset in the Park and follow the links for purchasing tickets – it’s going to be a great evening!
Sunset In The Park
Getting Caught Up
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Alright I know it is the middle of April and I haven’t posted anything for some time and it’s not because I haven’t wanted too, it’s just that I am not motivated; a huge dry spell has overtaken me in the motivation department.
This isn’t to say I don’t get stuff done but outside of housework and dropping off and picking up the kids from school, oh yeah, and getting on an airplane, motivation is lacking when it comes to spending time on the ole computer getting things cranked out. Maybe the problem is more of just starting that it is in finishing, even now I am getting somewhat excited, wait, I know, I need some extra motivation, hey, how about I treat myself to a scoop of ice cream this afternoon for every paragraph I type? This sounds good but then that goes against my waist line and would upset the lack of motivation I have about going downstairs and exercising on the elliptical or hitting the weights. I need something else to get me going, hmmm, maybe, well to be honest with you there isn’t anything that I want that I really should have so I guess I will just suffer, ok, keep typing I can do this.
Highlights…. In March I made several trips to Santa Rosa California and was awestruck at the difference a few can make. BollywoodH20 was a huge success and it looks like we raised around $14,000 which will go a long way in providing water to some very thirsty places. I capped off March with a trip down to Southern California and spoke in my cousin’s church and was greeted by a very warm response to the Wells for Life message and in turn the church was able to fund 2 water projects. What was really special for me was to learn that a good percentage of what was raised was done so by the school age children and this by just collecting loose change and pestering Dad and Mom for the “green” stuff.
Making an impact in the world is really not all that difficult.
People think they have to be big, powerful, wealthy, important or influential to make an impact and yet the reality is, they don’t, more specifically, you don’t. Follow me…. One child in the States can find a way to earn, receive, or come upon some money very easily, say $20. $20 to a kid may be a lot or maybe not much depending upon their age and the socio-economic status, regardless, coming upon $20 is fairly easy. Now, take that $20 and give it to me.
What can I do with it?
A lot.
I can change the course of life with just $20, actually, all I need is $3.
$3 is the average cost to bring water to a person in India. $20 brings water to at least 6 people and then let’s say 7 as the 7th can be a baby.
How do you change the world? Very simply and very easily, you give to Wells for Life and you watch us turn your money into water.
Right now kids are changing history; they are getting involved with Wells for Life. Kids at private Christian schools in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, kids at public schools in Olathe, Lenexa, Shawnee and Overland Park, KS and not to mention kids in Sonoma County CA.
The Human Race in Sonoma County is happening next month and last year they raised enough money for 10 village water projects, this year they want to surpass that goal and I don’t see why they can’t accomplish it. I am thrilled about what they are seeking to do and so much so I am taking my family out to Northern California next month to join them and the name of the team? Team Running Well. Get it? Pretty clever huh.
You want to be involved? Visit this link and donate. http://humanrace.kintera.org/wellsforlife
We’ll take what you give us and turn it into water, life changing water. I dare you to give and when you do why not give big. After all giving small helps a few but giving big helps many.
Take a clue from kids in KS and CA, make a difference in the world by giving a few dollars, but since you’re and adult, why just give money like a kid, give like a grown man or woman and write a big check or input a big number on the Donate Now button.
Your gift is tax deductible and just imagine how many lives you can positively impact with your donation. I promise, I will turn your money into life saving water.
One final thought, there are a group of men at Lansing Federal Correctional Facility that have turned their lives around and even in prison they are wanting to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate, specifically in India by providing a dollar here and a dollar there. Last Fall I had the chance to visit this prison and met these guys and told them firsthand about our work and was amazed to learn that they wanted to be involved. Knowing that their earnings in prison are minimal and that it would take a long time for them to collectively come up with enough money to fund even 1 water project I decided to commit to them that Wells for Life or one of it donors would match their giving, dollar for dollar so as to get them to their goal of $1,500.
What I am look for now is someone or a group of people who would be willing to partner with the guys from Lansing and see water come to India on their behalf. If you would like to help in this regard send your gift with a memo attached stating it’s for the Lansing guys and I will make sure it get’s added with their money. http://www.wellsforlife.org/get_involved/how-to-give/
— Michael