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Water for Christmas announces campaign launch and visit from Scott Harrison, founder and president of charity: water, Nov. 21-23
Originally Posted Online: Oct. 23, 2009, 12:47 pm
Last Updated: Nov. 16, 2009, 11:28 am
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Press release submitted by Scott Harrison. Quad-Cities -- Water for Christmas, a global grassroots effort born in the Quad-Cities, is on a mission to ensure that all people across the world have access to clean water. Since its inception in November 2008, Water for Christmas has raised more than $100,000 for New York-based charity: water and has inspired people all over the country to action. Unclean water is the leading cause of death in undeveloped nations, and unsanitary water kills 45,000 people each week, 90 percent of them being children under the age of five. That means 4,500 children die each day to water-related illnesses. The numbers are grim, the facts are startling, but, thankfully, a growing group of Iowans believe there is hope. Specifically focused on the nation of Liberia, Water for Christmas offers people an opportunity to trade consumerism for compassion during the holidays and beyond. Last year, students at West Middle School in Muscatine, Iowa, raised $6,000 that funded a well for an entire Liberian village. Students at JB Young Intermediate School in central Davenport, Iowa, held a dance and raised $1,000 for Water for Christmas, giving over 50 individuals without clean water a clean water supply for the next twenty years. "Local people have held auctions and bake sales, sold hand-made jewelry, designed and sold t-shirts, run, biked, even danced, in order to raise money for water. This, and much more, is in the works for this holiday season as people work together in a local effort for global change," says Jody Landers, the Muscatine mother of six and founder of Water for Christmas. This year, Water for Christmas is welcoming charity: water founder Scott Harrison to several events in the Quad-Cities Nov. 21-23. "Because he has taken notice of the huge splash coming from our pocket of the country," she continues, "Scott Harrison, founder and president of charity: water, will be visiting Davenport and Muscatine, Iowa, in November to support our efforts and cast the vision further for charity: water's mission." Based in New York, Harrison's highly recognized organization has raised nearly 10 million dollars in the last three years, changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of people by building fresh-water wells in places that are without. A former night club promoter, he uses unprecedented creativity and social media to change the lives of the billion people who share our world and lack access to clean water. Charity: water takes 100 percent of all donations directly to water solution projects and follows up with proof...pictures and Google earth coordinates of all completed projects. Harrison and his organization have been featured by nearly every major news outlet in the country. As Landers, who will travel to Liberia with a charity: water team in November, says simply, "We are a group of mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who are anxious to welcome Scott Harrison to Iowa and eager to continue to raise awareness and funds for all of the mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who lack access to such a simple, life-giving resource in Liberia." Scott Harrison will visit Iowa November 21- 23 and be involved in the following events: Saturday Nov. 21: 6 p.m. -- Speaking engagement by Harrison. Calvary Church service, 501 W. Bypass 61, Muscatine, IA 52761. 7-10 p.m. -- 'Wine to Water' fundraising event, featuring Harrison and live music by Lojo Russo and the Andrew Landers Project. Redstone Building, 3rd Floor, Downtown Davenport (2nd & Main). Tickets, $20 donation at door. Sunday Nov. 22: 9:00 a.m. -- Speaking engagement by Harrison. Calvary Church service, 501 W. Bypass 61 Muscatine, IA 52761. Noon -- 'Water Changes Everything: Opening Doors to Global Citizenship' luncheon, featuring Harrison. Allsteel Building, Muscatine, IA. Tickets, $20 donation. Limited availability. Please contact brenda_mohr@yahoo.com for tickets. (Sponsored by Bandag.) 3 p.m. -- Community lecture by Harrison. St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady Street, Davenport, Iowa, 52803. Free and open to public. 5-8 p.m. -- Water for Christmas Fundraiser, Geneva Country Club, 3100 Bidwell Rd., Muscatine, IA 52761. Silent auction, live music, and presentation by Harrison. Monday, Nov. 23: Harrison visits Muscatine schools. 6 p.m. -- DavenportOne event featuring Harrison at the Bettendorf Waterfront Convention Center. Tickets for sale. Learn more about Scott Harrison and the history of charity: water at http://www.charitywater.org/ (charity: water website) http://vimeo.com/6202666 (Campaign launch and history of the organization) For more information about Water for Christmas: www.water4christmas.com 
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