Help spread the word

My Mom let me know that "The Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation is donating a total of $1 million to these four charities — National Parks, Keep America Beautiful, American Forests and Water.Org. $100,000 will go to each just for participating, and the remaining $600,000 will be distributed based on your votes."

She encouraged me, and now I'm encouraging you- go online and vote for water.org

From their website:

Water.org is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries

I love our national parks and forests. I want America to stay beautiful. But those aren't life and death situations. They have a lot of public funding. And, a million dollars would be swallowed up easily.

Water, on the other hand. That's a life and death issue. Thousands of people (roughly 40,000 if I did my math right) would have their lives changed if $1,000,000 was invested in water projects. With clean water health improves. Did you know 3.5 million people die each year from water-related diseases? That diarrhea is the second most common cause of death in children under 5? It doesn't need to be that way.

Did you know that for millions of women and children, collecting water can take several hours daily? When there are clean, safe, local water supplies, women can contribute in other ways economically and children (particularly girls who otherwise are likely to have the task of going for water) are more likely to attend school. A clean water source has spiraling effects.

Check out their website, and then go vote. (You can vote once a day until Jan. 21) And then, help spread the word. Blog about it. Tell your friends. Stick it on your face book page. We can help make a difference.

(And, if you're interested in the topic, this site also has some great facts about access to water)

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." Matthew 10:42