I was recently reminded what a blessing it is when you take an opportunity to change lives.
In 2010, I traded my birthday for a chance to build a clean-water well. I created a charity: water campaign to raise $5,000 and thanks to the generosity of many, over $5,000 was raised and a total of 3 wells were built with funds from my campaign and a few others.
Here are a few exciting facts about the projects:
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Location: two wells in Malawi and one in Ethiopia
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People: 546 people served in Africa
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Raised: $5,004 from my project.
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Funding Breakdown:
- $2,828.17 went to the Adi Arbea Village in northern Ethiopia helping 350 people.
- $2,063.24 with an additional $852.21 coming from the Causing Life by Catherine Holloway campaign went to the Kamputeni Village in western Malawi serving 39 people as a hand-dug well.
- $112.59 went to the Kamtambo Village, also a hand-dug well in western Malawi, with $470.50 from Dirk Maas’ campaign and $2,332.36 from Tim & Maureen’s 30th birthday party campaign.
- Giving:
- 115 different individuals/families gave.
- 13 donations of $100 or more.
- 6 donations over $200
- 9 anonymous donations
- Median donation amount: $40.68
- Mean: $22
- Mode: $22
- 83 donations for $22
Originally we hoped to help 250 people with $5,000. Actually, we helped 546 people (in combination with others) through $8,546.48
Honestly, I hadn’t thought much about the project until I received an email with project updates.
It’s easy to forget what an impact we can make when we put our heads down and forget to look up.
I didn’t do this on my own. It didn’t happen because I’m special. In fact, I didn’t fulfill my end of the bargain: I wasn’t able to run the marathon [insert excuses that don’t matter here]. I hope to run two half-marathons in the future to make up for the full marathon. Exhibit A of where I fall short.
Nonetheless, thanks to the grace of God, lives were still changed, people contributed to something that saved lives, and we all got to be a part of something really special.