H2O for Life holds its most successful Water Ball ever
With its towering angular walls pierced by several dramatic geometric windows jutting toward the sky like an urban glacier, the McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis offered the perfect setting on an uncharacteristically warm evening this past September for H2O for Life’s ninth annual Water Ball. 350 guests gathered in the expansive space showcasing water features, warm wooden ceilings, two bars, and a stunning silent auction room featuring more than 125 different items.
Bolstered by an all star cast of presenters, this year’s event was far and away H2O for Life’s most successful Water Ball to date, raising more than $180,000 to support service learning projects all across America that focus on fighting the global water crisis.
Students Isabel Birkeland and Sydney Peterson charmed the crowd with a playful, yet strong testimonial about the value H2O for Life provides young people. After learning about the water crisis from a young neighbor, these two best friends and high school seniors decided to help. They contacted H2O for Life for guidance, and for the past 3 years have organized a Walk for Water to help fund water and sanitation projects at schools in Uganda and Cambodia.
“We set small goals each day. We went door-to-door in our neighborhood and set out to raise $150, no matter what. Sometimes it took 15 minutes, and sometimes it took 6 hours. Because we were motivated to create change, on Saturday July 15th, we had over 100 participants and raised close to $5,000.”
You can listen to their full speech here.
As Isabel and Sydney head off to college next year, they hope their walk will continue on as a community tradition.
H2O for Life was honored to hear from John Travis of Drop in the Bucket, a long-time implementing partner and clean water advocate. John spoke passionately about his work in sub-Saharan Africa combating the water crisis. His talk introduced several first-time guests to the difficult realities people face around the world due to a lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
To round out the inspired evening, tears flowed throughout during an impassioned speech by 4th grader, Courage Okojie. Courage spoke of the moment he learned that many girls in Africa are forced to collect water to bring to school.
“Because of H2O for Life, I help make life better and safer for others, I help pay for wells, I conserve water, I don’t pollute water, and I have learned to respect water. I thank H2O for Life for teaching me about the water crisis. But even more importantly…I am grateful that this organization saw potential in kids like me.”
Thank you
We would like to thank our event sponsors; Kinetico, Mains’l Services, Kurt Johnson Auctioneering, Leadpages, Wells Fargo, APi Group, and Smith Schafer & Associates. A special shout out to all of our volunteers who donated countless hours to make the 2017 Water Ball our best ever. And last, but not least, we’d like to thank all attendees and donors. You make this life-changing and life-saving work possible. We appreciate each and every one of you!