Who We Are

We are a non-profit partnering with organizations in Africa and the United States to provide clean water to African communities that have none. Our network of almost 400 donors and volunteers continues to grow.

Donors

"That which is good is never finished." End of 2010; Thanks to Connie Anderson, Sarah Kline Kinzer, Natalie Kline for their Christmas gifts to W.A.T.E.R. Thanks to veteran W.A.T.E.R. traveler Jen Reubish for her birthday wish on Facebook. She has asked that donations be made to W.A.T.E.R. Thanks to steadfast donors Steve and Janice Tallman. They almost own a whole well after 5 years of steady contributions. Thanks already 2011 to Sally Schwind, Terry Swain, and Linda Wheatbrook for generous donations. Water is LIFE!

2010 Wine into W.A.T.E.R. Celebrations in Seattle brought in enough for a well not counting matching! Deep gratitude to all who attended at Microsoft, Goater/Donovan, Reubish, Kline houses, and the Our Lady of the Lake breakfast. Our Lady of the Lake School brought in $116.54 for WATER. Check out photos and remember, it is never too late to donate!

August 28, 2010 Update

Thank you Jen Guterman, Ghana 2010 trip taker, for inviting friends to donate to us for your 30th birthday! Microsoft Employee donations have been matched for the quarter ending June 30, 2010. We received a check for $10,154 and $24 on August 9th. We are up to $1500 a month from Microsoft employees! Thank you, friends of W.A.T.E.R. and Bob Maher, board member for spreading the word about our low overhead. We also received a check for $42 from a high school student Katrina Reeve who simply saved her change to 'make a change'. Water4them, a small California group led by Sally Schwind, has chosen W.A.T.E.R. as recipient for their fund raising efforts. Many thanks to all who have embraced our cause of clean water!

Two wonderful stories of donations.

July 15: Kay Roe, 8 years old, has been volunteer working in her dad's nursing home since school let out. She has been taking care of animals, visiting residents, and helping in any way people need. Kay's dad kept track of her time, and she has earned $200. Today, she handed that money over to Thomas Awiapo's daughter Loretta so kids in Africa could have clean water. This is not the first time Kay has saved her money and donated it to WATER. She gave over $250 of birthday money when she was only 6. What a wonderful and compassionate girl. THANK YOU, Kay.

June 23: We have received $10,000 donation from the widow of a friend of our board. Upon hearing of the wonderful work, she suggested her husband would have loved it and sent a check. Blessings, Kay and Linda!

A $52.40 donation from 2nd grade Brownies from Girl Scout Troop # 43192 in Sammamish, Washington. This is what we call grassroots! Way to go Alysha, Elle, Jillian, Bridget, Leigha, Chloe, Ashlyn, Bella and Alyssa!

Moral of the stories? No amount is too big or small!

Thanks to Zheng Wang for the documentary H ope: Ghana

Many people attended at the "Hope, Ghana" Documentary and appreciated the excellent production. The film has now been invited to a London film festival to compete. Stay tuned for more info as it comes in. Over $1000 in donations was brought in for W.A.T.E.R. that evening with some being matched. Keep that water running, Zheng!

2010 donations coming in. That which is good is never finished!

If you donated, and your name does not appear, please contact Jan Kline so it can be corrected. We deeply appreciate all our faithful supporters.

Misc donations:

Kay & Dr Ron Smith

Sandy Broberg

Janet H ( Microsoft Matching)

Meyer WATER event

October Goater/ Roe Wine into WATER

Allison & Tim	Mead
Dave & Debi	Lord/Preston
Colleen	Kinerk
James & Meredith	Hailey
Sandra	Widlan
Beicky Tim	Roe/Greenleaf
Margaret	Winsor
Richard & Emily	White
Ann	Kelly
John	Ames
Barb & Greg	Linde/Canova
Aimee	Khuu
Natalie	Kline
Nicole	Macinnes
Marsha	Pechman
Janice/Charles	Rohrmann
Kathy & Chris	Washington
Elaine & Stephen	Scherba
Karen	Graham
Susan	Shaver
Sharon & James	Moore

Oct 1 Wine into W.A.T.E.R.

C J Taylor Day and Bob Day

Jan & Mike Kline

Josefina Pataky

Stephanie & Chris Larson

Clay & Shari Anderson

Deana Barrow

Mark & Karen Smith

Jerry & Trese Graddon

Jen Mullis

Kathy Dube

Mona Dube

Klaus & Annette Schwientek

Marcia Furfiord

Robin Kaminski

Laura & Mike Stanger

Rachel Mullen

Katrina Reeve

Sally Schwind

Mike & Joann Howisey

GFWC Cascade Women's club
Marbetts
Marshs
Bornhoefts
Michelle Leonard
Odyssey Enterprise - Pete Caputo match
Al & Joan Capili
Fanning Family
Elizabeth Eckmann
Toni Firth
Vickie Hahn
Al & Betty Matthews
Aaron Draganov
Amanda Anderson
Amanda Goodwin
Kim Amie
Ande Harwood
Andrew Pederson
Andy Linton
Anna Anafi
Jan Kline
Anne Pennington
Balaji Thiagarajan *
Barb & Brian Mullis
Ben Kuhn *
Bob Maher *
Catherine Boeger *
Meredith Bogguess *
Michael Bronsdon *
Changyi Song
Cheri Rutherford
Connie Myers
Cristina Teoderescu
Darin Dressler
Harold Carscaddon *
David Langford
Fay Cawley
Greg Dedman
Patrick Carey
Jan Abendroth
Michael Fenelon *
Jean Chak *
Jean Jung
Jen Mullis
Charlene Francisco *
Jerry Baxter
Jimmy Chong
Joey Nelson
Kathryn Kitchen *
Michael Liu *
Karen McKnight
Kathy O'Brien
Kheum Kang
Kimberly Alquist
Danjuma Mallum*
Lisa Marquardt
Paul Johnston
Paul Hawkey
Paul Hanson
Paula Sundstrom
Paul Miller *
Robe Scott
Roderick Lee
Ron Hansen
Rosie Dunn
Yvonne Muench *
Ryan Edwards
Sameer Merchant *
Sandi Glasow
Michael Naughton *
Sandy Tomlin
Sarah Pynchon
Jim Anzalone
Rosnow Yuriko *
Songlin Wu
Swatee Surve
Tad Pritchetc
Hani Saliba *
Tom Miller
Vance Bingham
Vibeke Danborg
Walter Hyatt
Riann & Sammy Sacquitne *
Teresa Thompson *
Anonymous $850 *
Xiaoqi Ye
Yanan Xu
JoAnne Tallman
Michael & Maureen Fay
Susan Leiter
Kay Roe
Tom & Kathy Dubé

* Microsoft Match

Thank You 2009 Donors!

Sarah Abbott
Virginia Adams
Steve Alpert
Christine Anderson
Clay & Shari Anderson
John Anderson
Lee & Connie Anderson
Lila Maureen Anderson
Peggy Anderson
Ken & Ann Andrews
Carrie Angle
Anton
Joanne &Tom Barker
Jill Barringer
Virgil Bauer
Margie Berard
Family Bleisch
Marti Bolcer
Mary Ann Brickson
Sandy Broberg
Joe Buys
Joe & Robin Byrne
Angelo Calfo
Greg &Barb Linde Canova
Al & Joan Capili
Peter & Marianne Caputo
Beverly Cartier
Paul & Theresa Cataldo
Dan Cembrola
Molly Cohan
Stacy Connole
Christine Sinnott Cooper
Kenneth Cooper
James Copacina
Michealene Corlett
Melba and XB Cox
M Beth Crane
Mary Ann Creighton
Terri Culver & Lee Harris
John M Curley
Cheryl Davis
Drury Davis
Vincent & Lois Dawley
Kevin & Deborah Dawley
Janice Dawley
Pia Decano II
Kathy Deckman
Family Del Matto
Jan,Barb,Anne Delaney
Sam & Elisabeth Dibeh
Al & Jerrie Drinkwine
Paul Drinkwine
Phillip Downs & Family
Kathy Dube
Laurae Dunning
Elizabeth Dode Eckmann
Anthony Evans
Jeff & Karen Fantozzi
Mildred Fay
Mike & Jan Fenelon
Paul & Diana Ferree
Tim &Tina Finley
Rick & Peggy Fisher
Janet & Peter Flatley
Barry Flegenheimer
Montie & Cecelia Frazier
Mary Frederickson
Marcia Fuirfiord
Genesis
Janice Gerrish
Angus Glanville
Kathryn Goater
Edith Godar
Sharon Goldberg
MarieLorena Gonzalez
Jerry &Trese Graddon
James and Linda Graddon
Paul Graddon
Marie Clare Graddon
Stephen & Kim Graddon
Mary and David Graddon
Eugene Graddon
Tim Greenleaf
Rolf Gruen
Jim & Meredith Hailey
Mary and David Hamlin
Jim & MaryAlice Hanken,
Dan Hannan & Sandra
Matthews
Karen Hanzian,
John Held
Molly & Randy Hemmingsen
The Hessel Family
MQP Hinckley Family
William Holloway
James Holman
Doug & Bernie Houghton
Kristin Houser
Daniel & Barbara Hrehov
Mary Ellen Hudgins
Liz Hunter
Laura Inveen & G Wm Shaw
Fred & Anne Jansen
Rick Jazculca
David & Gerry Jones
John Joosten
Carol & Gregg Karalus
Cynthia Karen
Celia Kasony
Ann Kelly
Aimee Khuu
Colleen Kinerk
Ellis & Sarah Kinzer
Rochelle Kittelson
Jan & Mike Kline
Nat Kline
Cindy Klitzke
Knights of Columbus
St Philomena
Wendy Krakauer
Rich Kruegar
Barbara Kulesa
Anne Kysar
Ann LaBeck
Pete & Julie Lackie
Raymond Larpentur
Steph & Chris Larson
Nancy Larue
George Leighton
Susan Leiter
Greg & Lynae Leptich
Jon Leptich
Stephen Leptich
Paul and Debbie Lichon
Barbara Luxenberg
Cathy MacDonald
Nicole Macinnes
Bob & Amy Maher
Laverne Mance
Sonya Mangold
Manitowoc, Wisconsin Noon Rotary
Glenn Martin
Mary Queen of Peace - Social Concerns Committee
Karen Maxwell
Cindy McCann
Barbara McConnell
McGlones
Maureen McQuade
Virgil A & Sally McQueen
Maria Gemma Mechure
Mary Meinig
Delores Miniken
Laurie Moen
MQP
Rachel Mullen
Jen Mullis
Catherine Nolan
Colleen Ochs
Daniel Ochs
Joseph Ochs
Richard &Patricia Ochs
Mary Jose Pardo
Richard & Sally Parks
Lisa Paul
Marsha Pechman
Mary Peppard
Mary & Mike Perreault
Pat Peterson, Pat K
Debi Preston
Deb &Gary Reed
Bill Reed
Dale Reubish
Jen Reubish
Janet Rice
Charles Richards
Joan Riibe
Tracy Rockwell
Becky Roe
Ellen & Hal Roe
Kay & Jim Roe
Janice Rohrmann
Peter and Laura Rukavina
Julie Rusk
Saldanha
Justine Samberg
Lisa Samuel
Kirsten Sands & Family
Elaine Scherba
Ron & Maryelyn Scholz
Loree Schoonover
Gail for Joanne Anderson Schroeder
MQP Schute Family
Annette & Klaus Schwientek
David Scult
Amy Searight
Araga Sefinat
Patricia Shelledy
Michelle Simeoni
Thomas Skoda
Dr Ron & Kay Smith
Karen & Mark Smith
Brandon Stander
Laura Stanger
Aggarwal Sudhanshu
Serena Swegle
Christina Szabo
Tom Tadych
Steve &Janice Tallman
JoAnne Tallman
Gary & Marilyn Tangen
CJ Taylor
Laurie Thibert
Family Travers
Colette Tvedt
Ermelo and Mary Ventura
C Vicars
Angela Vogt
MaryJane Walsh
Norma Warner
Kathleen Washington
Richard & Emily White
Sandra Widlan
Sybil Wilkinson
JD Wilson
Deana Wilson
Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry
Martha Wyatt
Ashley Zerangue
Paul Zumdieck
Marcella Zuvela

Joseph	Anbanas
Marti	Bolcer
Dennis	ONEAL
Antoinette	Francisco
S	Villagran
Kristina Anne (Meyer)	Parker

Board of Directors

Jim Niquette, Founder / Board Chair
	Jim Niquette worked for the Carter Center from 2002 to Sept. 2011 as a consultant with the Guinea Worm Eradication Program and then as Country Director for Ghana from 2006 until 2011. Ghana was the first Country in Sub Saharan Africa to bring Trachoma below levels recommended by the WHO for antibiotic distribution. It also eradicated guinea worm during his period as Country Director, reducing cases from 4,282 in 2006 to 0 in 2011. The last case was reported in May, 2010. Guinea Worm and Trachoma were the only health projects the Carter Center had, so in October, 2011 he began a full time effort with WATER. Prior to the Carter Center, he was a private business person working for a variety of technology companies, including his own in the United States and Australia for a 15 year period. During his time in technology, he was a sought after international speaker, having authored a book on converting minicomputers to Unix and LAN technology. He was also a consultant to organizations such as the New York Transit Authority, Hewlett Packard and the US State Department. His original African experience came as a result of being a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, Africa. He is the founder of W.A.T.E.R. and a graduate of Notre Dame University with a degree in Business Finance. He resides in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana.
Jan Kline, Board Member
	Ms. Jan Kline is a Seattle native, a graduate of the University of Washington, and has served as Pastoral Assistant for Youth Ministry and Outreach at St. John Vianney Parish in Kirkland, Washington since 1990. Jan has served on the board of Esperanza International, Inc. since 2001; 2 years as president. Jan is a past committee chairperson with the Puget Sound Susan G. Komen For The Cure. Other commitments in social outreach include Catholic Relief Services in Haiti & Ghana, Habitat for Humanity Eastside King County and Ghana, and Maryknoll Mission in Peoples Republic of China. She resides in Kirkland, Washington, USA.
Bob Maher, Board Member
	Bob Maher lives in Kirkland, WA with his wife, Amy, and two children. Bob has managed various sales and marketing functions at Microsoft since joining the company in 1997. He is currently Director of Marketing in the division that works with Microsoft’s largest business partners in the software industry. He has also run marketing teams in the Unified Communications, Education, and Windows Mobile divisions of the company. Prior to joining Microsoft, Bob was a health care public policy analyst for Abt Associates, a research and consulting firm based in Cambridge, Mass. Bob hold a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Cornell and an MBA from Yale. In addition to his work with W.A.T.E.R., he and his wife are also involved in fundraising and planning for a local domestic violence agency.
Lamisi Mbillah, Board Member
	Lamisi Mbillah was Miss Ghana in 2005 and became the first African woman to ever be awarded the Miss World Beauty With a Purpose title at the 2006 Miss World pageant in Poland. She won the award and was named a semifinalist in the pageant as a result of her work with the Ghana Health Service, Carter Center and UNICEF in the eradication of guinea worm and promotion of the distribution of iodized salt during her reign as Miss Ghana. The award is given to the contestant who contributes the most to humanity and society during her reign. Following this she has continued to give her time to humanitarian work and in 2008 Rotary International awarded her the highest honour in the organisation as a Paul Harris fellow.
Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor, Board Member
	Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor, a medical doctor, is the National Program Manager for Guinea Worm eradication in Ghana and has been working with WATER in Ghana for the past several years. He brings his considerable skillset with eradication and control of neglected tropical diseases to the WATER board. Ghana announced the break in transmission of guinea worm in July, 2011, a feat accomplished under the leadership of Dr. Korkor as Program Manager. His addition is consistent with WATER's desire to couple the provision of water and sanitation with disease control.

Contact a board member

Volunteers

Thank you to all the volunteers who have travelled to Ghana with W.A.T.E.R.

Each person making our trip pays his/her total expenses AND most have raised additional funds for wells.

A special thanks to Sue Niquette, sister of our founder. SInce 2005, Sue has volunteered her expertise as a CPA to help us keep overhead low. Thank you, SUE!

Courtney Plummer, Summer Intern

Courtney Plummer, our summer intern, is enrolled in the University of Washington Daniel J Evans School of Public Administration working towards a master's degree. She is a past long term volunteer with Esperanza International in Tijuana, Mexico. Courtney has now returned to U.W. for her second year. She has created a detailed report on the sustainability of ALL of our W.A.T.E.R. systems. That report will be available on this web site shortly or email plummerc@uw.edu and request a copy. We are truly making an enormous difference to thousands of Ghanians. Special kudos to Courtney for her 'on the ground' work on the Life Teen/WATER Raskob Foundation grant. $19,000 is the result of her work. Thank you, Courtney!

Andrew Romaner

Andrew Romaner has a Masters in Public Health from the University of South Florida where his concentration was Global Health Practice. He also holds a certificate in Infection Control. His B.A. is in International Affairs from the Elliot School at The George Washington University. He has completed two terms of national service with AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps and another with the Student Conservation Association. He has a strong interest in water and sanitation as well as Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Kirsten Sands

Kirsten Sands holds a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in International Studies from Susquehanna University. Kirsten spent January - June 2010 in Accra, Ghana, working with both W.A.T.E.R. and OSU Children's Home, the largest orphanage in Accra. Prior to her time in Africa, Kirsten worked in Washington, DC for the American Democracy Institute, a small non-profit dedicated to professional and leadership development where she served as Executive Assistant to the Founder & CEO, while also serving as Assistant Project Manager to various other programs. She has a dedicated and proven interest in community development which led her to co-found a Mentoring Program for the Children's Home by designing a mentoring model and creating a partnership with a local university for sustainability. Kirsten's short-term plans include moving back to Washington, DC for her career and continuing to raise money and support for various projects, including the rebuilding of Elohim Academy, a primary school in Ghana's central region, and W.A.T.E.R.

Daniel Cembrola

Daniel Cembrola holds a B.A. in Business Law and Political Science from University of Miami. He also completed coursework in International Law at American University. While at Miami, Daniel was involved with the international nonprofit Invisible Children which works with child soldiers in Uganda. His initial post-graduate work involved legal research and assistance at a Washington, DC law firm. Daniel then spent the months of January through June of 2010 in Accra, Ghana. He divided his time in Ghana working at the country’s largest orphanage, Osu Children’s Home, and with W.A.T.E.R. In coordination with another volunteer, Daniel co-founded a mentoring program at the Osu Children’s Home. The mentoring program’s aim is to create a sustainable source of volunteers at the children’s home through a partnership with a local university. In Daniel’s near future, he plans to pursue a career in International Relations. Much time will also be devoted to ongoing projects at Osu Children’s home, and fundraising on behalf of W.A.T.E.R. and Elohim Academy, a small primary school in the Central Region of Ghana.

Rocky Dawuni

Visit Rocky Dawuni's website.

Christopher Dube, Webmaster

Volunteer web master Chris Dube is a junior at the University of Washington, studying mechanical engineering. Chris made his first trip to Ghana summer of 2010 and many of his photos grace our opening page slide show. He continues to add to our organization on a regular basis and is a valued member of the volunteer leadership team of W.A.T.E.R.

W.A.T.E.R. Travelers 2006

Jan Kline
Teddy Alejandrino
Teri Anderson Cella
Karla Gergen
Paul Graddon
Aly Howisey
Jennifer Mullis
Ashley Zerangue

W.A.T.E.R. Travelers 2007

Jan Kline
Eugene Cash
Kevin Duggan
Pam Dunkley
Barbara Harrington
Anne Janssen
Barb Luxenberg
Julie McSorley
Sue Niquette
Laurie Thibert
Ashley Zerangue
Marit Zimmerman

W.A.T.E.R. Travelers 2008

Group 1

Jan Kline
Marti Bolcer
Kevin Duggan
Arece Hampton
Robin Kaminski
Mike Kline
Stephanie Larson
Barb Luxenberg
Karen Taylor
Marie Taylo

Group 2

Jan Kline
Deana Barrow
Chris Freni
Cortney Howisey
Martine Kulesa
Bob Maher
Jennifer Mullis
Jennifer Reubish
Eduardo Zavala Reyes
Steve Zeller
Ashley Zerangue
Grp 3 Laurie Thibert
Roger Gouldberg
Courtney Hoch
Tanya Myers
Zheng Wang

W.A.T.E.R. Travelers 2009

Jan Kline
Clay Anderson
Shari Anderson
Al Drinkwine
Jerrie Drinkwine
Jerry Graddon
Laurie Thibert

W.A.T.E.R. Travelers 2010

Jan Kline
Bob Maher
Christopher Dube
Jennifer Guterman
Hallie Hemmingsen
Blair Howisey
David Meyer
Jennifer Reubish
Courtney Plummer
Kirsten Sands
Dan Cembrola

W.A.T.E.R. travelers 2011

Jan Kline

Becky ROe

Nicky Macinnes

Wendy Krakauer

Brian Greenleaf

Natalie Kline

Partners

Carter Center

We have been working with the Carter Center to aid their mission to eradicate guinea worm worldwide. President Carter and Mrs Carter are pictured with Jim Niquette, wife Afia and their son Jeffrey.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Serves in 100 countries;
62,000,000 people helped in 2006

Motto is “Need not creed.”

CRS is the charity and international aid arm of the Catholic Bishops of the United States. They reach more than 100 million people in more than 100 countries on five continents. CRS has been in Ghana for more than 50 years. Visit their Ghana projects page

Life Teen

Our partnership with Life Teen, the Catholic youth organization, raised $217,000 in 2010. We are inviting many of the parishes to continue their relationship with W.A.T.E.R. in the future.

For more information on this fundraising effort, check out our Life Teen Information

Or visit Life Teen's website

World Vision

World Vision and W.A.T.E.R. partnered to build a water system in the key Guinea Worm endemic town of Savelugu. The mechanized system included an overhead tank, taps and submersible pump. The project helped reduce guinea worm cases in the town 93% the year following completion