This was the invitation created for a benefit to raise money for wells in Rwanda.

Project Text

1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. The average American uses 176 gallons of water daily. A 5-minute shower uses up to 50 gallons of water. Watering your lawn uses 10 gallons. Survival is possible for 3 weeks without food, but for only 3 days without water. Millions of women in developing nations walk 3 miles every day, carrying 80 pounds of water. 42,000 people will die this week from diseases related to the poor quality drinking water that causes 80 percent of all sickness. 90 percent of them will be children under age 5. A child dies from unsafe water every 15 seconds. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation causes 80 percent of all sickness on the planet and kills 2.2 million people every year. That’s more than all forms of violence, including war. 617 people can be sustained by the amount of water it takes to refine one barrel of crude oil. What do these facts mean? The numbers combine to create one enormous problem. Widespread education and awareness are essential for global change, but they are not enough. Action is paramount. Anything you can do is better than nothing. Even the smallest gift has an effect when spent wisely in the developing world. This is not about responsibility or guilt: it is about love and compassion for your fellow man. Start with one.