Fundraiser This Week

We have a big opportunity this week to raise much-needed funds to kick-off our plans for 2013.  If you live anywhere near Cache Valley in Northern Utah and plan to eat this week (;-), please consider going to one of my favorite places, Pizza Pie Cafe.

If you don't live near here, or can't otherwise make it, would you please spread the word by sending your Northern Utah friends and family to our Facebook Page?  While you are there please "LIKE" us.

IMPORTANT: We don't get credit unless guests bring in the form below.  Please print it out and take it with you.  Thanks a lot!

Water

I was going through past photos today to select my favorites for the new website we are creating and I came across this one and had to share.

I took this shot on the shores of Lake Volta in March 2012. I am guessing this boy is about 8 years old.  It was early in the morning and already "Africa" hot.

This water is filthy.  If you look behind him you can see trash on the beach and just outside the shot is a large, rusted ferry boat getting ready to take travelers across this gigantic lake.  I saw people bathing in this water, cleaning motorbikes, going to the bathroom, etc.  To think that someone, a little kid no less, has no choice but to drink this bacteria-ridden water is really appalling.

In my work with Bridges To America in Africa I have come to realize that the root cause of problems that exist in poor countries (poverty, disease, education, etc.) is a lack of clean water and food.

That is why I am so glad to be working with the great team at People Water. These guys aren't just cool, they have big hearts and a big vision to change the world by solving one of our most basic problems: clean water.

With their Drop For Drop mission every bottle they sell People Water gives an equal amount of clean water to a person in need.

We will be selling People Water at our fundraiser at Pizza Pie Cafe this Monday through Thursday (Feb 25th-28th) for $2.00/bottle.  By purchasing a bottle you can do three things at once: quench your thirst, help a person without clean drinking water, and support us in our mission of reuniting African families and teaching children everywhere to live a life worthy of their best dreams.

Here we go!

We are so excited to announce that we are off and running in 2013!  Under the leadership of the Student Council and thanks to the students, parents, faculty, and administration of Edith Bowen Lab School, a charter school located on the campus of Utah State University in Logan Utah, we are doing our first fundraiser of 2013.

We have big plans to have a breakout year in 2013 and help more people than we did last year and that means we need money to do that.  We have one family we are working with that has been separated for over 20 years.  The mother lives in Boston and her three children attend school in the US.  She has two older daughters that have lived in the West African country of Liberia ever since a civil war broke out that unexpectedly separated them long ago.  Their case is complex and will require lots of funds and time but we are dedicated to not stop until they are reunited.  We need your help.

Edith Bowen has arranged a great fundraiser from February 25th - 28th at Pizza Pie Cafe in Logan.  PPC will donate 25% of sales during this period to Bridges To America.  I have been to PPC many times including two soccer parties and I LOVE this place!  It is great fun, delicious food, and good people.

Additionally, my daughters, Marissa and Kylie, will be joining me this week at Edith Bowen to make presentations about our trip to Ghana this past December and to help the kids there better understand what we do and how they can also make a difference in the world.

We look forward to this great start to 2013 and appreciate your support!