1. My first fundraising effort for Kenya and Zambia Water Projects

   By Rumaldo Ortiz (Volunteer, Individual Donor)

   After initially starting my fund-raising page with a $25.00 personal donation, I subsequently placed a donation widget on my Myspace page which unfortunately yielded little response, so I decided to do a local fundraiser using T-shirts of my official music website, and CD's of my rock and blues music as thank-you gifts for anyone donating $25.00 or more to these funds. Before I started this fundraiser,  I made an additional $75.00 personal donation to the Kenya schoolchildren's well fund so that people would see that I wasn't asking anyone to do something I wasn't prepared to do myself, which is to sacrifice a bit for the sake of others. I subsequently received donations from two Myspace friends who coincidentally have the same first name 'Cindy', and also from someone who I've never actually met named Matt Moriarty, who I've corresponded with regarding the etymology of my first name; donated $25.00. Both Cindy's donated $50.00, and a very dear friend of mine named Pearl Jackson later donated another $25.00 in honor of her mother who's currently having serious health issues. I ask for prayers for them both.  Cindy Robbins then made another donation of $50.00 on behalf of some friends for a total of $300.00 towards these clean well water funds before my T-shirt / CD gift fundraiser got started.
   
   In addition to my personal cash donations, I donated the cost of the silk-screening setup fees and T-shirt costs, as well as the cost of the CD's I intended to use as thank you gifts. I had intended to set up a small table at a local business that includes a restaurant / boutique / yoga instruction / massage therapy etc, and thought I'd find some globally conscious people there, and the business manager initially welcomed the idea, but I was quickly turned down by the owner who apparently from what I was told didn't want to bother their customers, but thanks to friends and family, I was still able to raise $1000.00 in a couple weeks time. With these funds, I've requested that a well repair be funded in Zambia at the cost of $500.00, and the rest of the funds be used to help fund  a new well for the schoolchildren of the Kenya well project.
   
   I asked everyone who donated to make their donations either by credit card or check directly to The Water Project so that they knew that I wasn't taking out any of my costs from their donations. I received some bracelets from Peter Chasse President of The Water project.org in time to give out along with the gifts that showed they're supporting The Water Project.
   
   I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this fundraiser. Thanks to your kindness, selflessness and generosity, a well will be repaired in Zambia and a new well is that much closer to being completed in Kenya for the schoolchildren there. I'd like to extend a special thank you to my dear friend Philip B. Edgerton for his extremely generous donation of $625.00. $500.00 of this donation will be used to complete one well repair in Zambia. Of course I equally appreciate everyone who contributed, and want to thank you all for helping to change so many lives and in many cases truly save lives.
   
   Special Note:
   
   Due to problems with the software on Change.org, and Peter Chasse being out of the office for a while, the amounts donated have not updated and the checks I sent have yet to be processed. (see Myspace blog post from Peter Chasse below).
   
   Contributors:
   
   Carlos Abeyta $25.00, Ada Brown $50.00, Cindy Baker $50.00, Philip B. Edgerton DDS $625.00, Vito Hemphill D.C. $ 25.00, Pearl Jackson $25.00, David and Susan Lucero & family $50.00, Della Lopez $100.00, Clovis and Vivian Maestas & family $100.00, Matt Moriarty $25.00, Krystal Ortiz $25.00, Orlando Ortiz $25.00, Rumaldo Ortiz $100.00 ($100.00 cash, $300.00 T-shirts / CD's), Kristine Palmer $25.00, Cindy Robbins $50.00 Fundraiser total: $1,300.00
   
   TheWaterProject.org
   Special thanks to everyone who is participating with Rumaldo in raising funds for The Water Project, Inc.
   
   
   We received all of your checks and money orders today and you will each receive a tax-receipt in a few weeks. I just wanted to let you all know how much of an impact you are making and that your gifts are truly appreciated.
   
   
   As Rumaldo said, we'll be sending $500 out immediatly to begin a well repair in Zambia. As you all continue to raise support, we'll be applying the remaining funds to new well construction projects at schools in Kenya.
   
   
   As soon as a report and pictures arrive from Zambia, we'll get them out to you.
   
   
   Thank you again! Lives are about to be changed forever.
   
   Peter Chasse,
   
   President - The Water Project.org
   
   Posted by TheWaterProject.org on Aug 7, 2008 1:47 PM
   

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2. Changing Lives and Improving Health by Giving Clean Water

   By Peter Njodzeka (Volunteer, Board Member, Professional in the field, General public)

   I want to testify here that The Water Project and Thirst Relief International from the USA and Life and Water Development Group - Cameroon, which I am the founder have been able to save the lives of more than 5000 inhabitants in Cameroon in less than 7 months by providing biosand filters to every household in different communities to have access to clean drinking water. Millions of households and families are still in need and children are still dying of lack of clean drinking water. I believe you will be able to donate a filter to save the lives and improve the health of those in need of your help. We are really making great and once more, thanks to you all.

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