Water for Worthington: Youth-led fundraiser aims for clean water

• Water for Worthington

Ryan mcgaughey/Daily Globe Worthington High School students (front row, from left) Trent Walters, Nicole Ektnitphong, Meagan Meier, (back row), Brandon Berger, Shane Pedersen, Emily Penning, Jonah Oberloh and Heather Loy each participated in a fundraising effort for clean water in developing countries.

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WORTHINGTON — It may seem like a drop in the bucket, but a group of highly motivated Worthington High School (WHS) students believe their efforts to raise $5,000 for clean water in developing countries will make a positive difference.

“Almost 1 billion people in this world do not have access to safe, clean drinking water,” said Nicole Ektnitphong, the driving force behind the Worthington for Water (WFW) project. “That’s one in eight of us.

“It’s nearly unthinkable to realize that the average American uses 150 gallons of water each day, but in many poor countries, a person may use only five gallons. Water is so simple, so basic, and yet it’s something we take for granted.” Ektnitphong added.

Having discovered the tremendous need for safe, clean drinking water in many places on the globe, WHS senior Ektnitphong researched organizations that work to solve the problem and settled on New York-based charity: water as the best beneficiary of the funds she hopes to raise through two fundraising events sponsored by WFW on Saturday, April 16.

“I’ve learned a lot about world issues including poverty, economics, environmental justice, education, civil and human rights and more since joining the Nobles County Integration Collaborative’s (NCIC) Youth Diversity Council earlier this year,” said Ektnitphong, who is bound for Gustavus Adolphus College next fall.

“Now I’m passionate about the global need for clean water,” she continued. “Did you know that a person can survive for three weeks without food but can die after just three days without water? It’s critical to human survival.”

With that in mind, Ektnitphong — already a leader on many fronts, including being president of the WHS student council and of the WHS 2011 senior class, secretary of the WHS National Honor Society and a co-captain of the WHS girls’ soccer team — recruited a committee of seven other WHS students to aid her in bringing this project to life.

“Nicole is passionate about the world,” said friend and fellow committee member Heather Loy, a WHS junior. “We agreed to help her with this so she could follow her dream.”

“What Nicole did was smart,” added WHS senior Shane Pedersen, another WFW committee member and the team’s graphic designer. “She gathered us because we all have different strengths, and she assigned us tasks based on those strengths.”

So when the WFW hosts its semi-formal benefit beginning at 6:30 p.m. April 16 at BenLee’s in downtown Worthington, experienced senior musicians Brandon Berger and Trent Walters will provide musical entertainment throughout the evening while the art-oriented Loy will oversee a silent auction featuring works of local artists.

Remaining committee members Jonah Oberloh, Emily Penning and Meagan Meier all have designated jobs, as well.

“We are hoping this will be a classy social event benefiting a great cause,” Ektnitphong said. “There will be food, great music and the chance to learn more about charity: water and the world’s need for water.

“It’s something for people of all ages, and it should be a fun social event.” Ektnitphong added.

Bright and early that same morning, the WFW group is also sponsoring a bike and run/walk starting at Centennial Park.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. followed at 9 a.m. by the participant’s choice of an around-the-lake bike ride, a three-mile run or a 2.5 mile walk.

“All of the bike and run/walk registration fees are being donated to the project because we are receiving sponsorships to cover our expenses,” related Ektnitphong.

Among the WFW sponsors is the NCIC, Center Sports, Jason Vote — State Farm Insurance, Panaderia Mi Tierra bakery, the Jim and Kathy Lesnar Jr. family and the Curates family.

Similarly, charity: water, which since its founding in 2006 has funded 3,811 water projects in 17 different countries, is a highly reputable non-profit organization that uses 100 percent of its public donations to directly fund its water projects. All of charity: water’s operating costs are supplied by a group of private donors.

The average charity: water project costs $5,000 and can serve up to 250 people with clean water, translating to this: a $20 donation provides one person with clean drinking water for up to 20 years.

“The fact that dirty water kills more people every year than wars and other violence—that was startling to me,” confessed Oberloh, a WHS junior and WFW committee member who is helping with the business side of things.

While the initiative for the WFW fundraiser began with Ektnitphong, the group does have two adult advisers — Chelsea DeRuyter of the NCIC and Pete Beerman, founder of the interdenominational youth group OneDropNation.

The youths involved are hoping citizens and donors of all ages will support their cause by participating in one of the April 16 fundraising events, or by making a donation if they are unable to attend.

“This is about our community coming together for change, and about supporting another community in need somewhere else in the world,” said Ektnitphong.

“People are dying for lack of clean water, and we should do everything we can to help.” Walters said.

The Worthington for Water fundraising events will take place Saturday.

Pre-registration forms for the bike, walk or run are available at the Nobles County Integration Collaborative (NCIC), Worthington High School, the YMCA, Anytime Fitness or Empowered Fitness; there is a slight discount for pre-registration, although one can also register at 8 a.m. Saturday at Centennial Park.

Advance tickets for the evening benefit at BenLee’s are available at NCIC, or may be purchased at the door beginning at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, contact the NCIC at 507-376-3300; to donate directly to the project online, visit www.mycharitywater.org/worthingtonforwater.

Tags: water for worthington, global youth service day, news, clean, water, developing, countries