WATER FOR PEOPLE COMMITTEE

About the Committee  

The Water For People Committee shall be composed of at least three members who have an interest in helping people help themselves provide clean potable water. Water For People sends volunteers to, and supports efforts in, developing countries which result in sustainable drinking water and sanitation projects.

Duties of the Committee include:

  • Serve as the communication link between the Iowa Section and the National Water For People organization in Denver
  • Through news items and reports, build and maintain awareness of Water For People goals and activities and of ways in which we, as water professionals, can provide aid to developing areas.
  • Oversees the Water For People exhibit booth and auction at the Iowa Section Annual Conferences.
  • Encourages contributions to Water For People from Iowa, including an annual sponsor contribution from the Iowa Section

Committee News and Events

March 2022

Fundraising Results

Iowa Section AWWA and IAWEA members were excited to meet in person in 2021, and they came through in support of Water For People. Fundraising at the IAWEA conference in September consisted of the silent auction and cup collection and raised $7,100.47. The Iowa Section AWWA conference in October totaled $7,612.49 in Water For People support between the golf outing, silent auction, and cup collection. An additional $446 was raised outside of the conference events, bringing total Iowa Committee fundraising to $15,158.96 for calendar year 2021.

Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award

The Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award was established in 2001 by the Water For People Board of Directors to honor outstanding volunteers. After a distinguished career of national and local service, Ken Miller passed away in June 2010, and the award was renamed in his memory. He embodied self-sacrificing volunteer service, and his vision for a world in which everyone has lasting access to safe, reliable water and sanitation services continues to be an inspiration. Today, the Miller Award is presented annually to exceptional volunteers selected by Water For People Committees and Workplace Giving partners.

The Iowa Water For People Committee has nominated Jonathan Contag with FOX Strand to receive this award. Along with recipients from other committees and workplace giving programs, Jonathan will be presented with the award at a virtual ceremony in June. The text of his nomination is included below.

Jonathan has done a great job with the silent auction, for which he assumed responsibility a few years ago. In addition to the normal duties of running two silent auctions annually, there are a couple times he really went above and beyond in the past few years. The first was assisting with the golf outing as we transitioned committee chairs. There was an immediate need for someone to handle registration for the golf outing which was coming up quickly. Jonathan stepped up and got it done. The latter was in executing a great silent auction despite the complete lack of in-person conferences in 2020. Many people would have settled for missing out on a year of fundraising, but Jonathan stuck with it. The virtual silent auction raised more money than any single silent auction in our records. 

Jonathan made transitioning the silent auction so easy, and he has clearly taken it on with a new energy – always a good thing! 

 – Winnie Gleason, former silent auction coordinator

Odds and Ends
Water For People will be conducting its next Impact Tour April 27-28, offering the opportunity to travel virtually to Nicaragua and see firsthand how your support brings water and sanitation to every family, clinic, and school, forever. Visit https://www.waterforpeople.org/events-tours/ for more information or to sign up for email updates.
A silent auction and cup collection for Water For People will be conducted at the Iowa Water Environment Association (IAWEA) annual conference in Davenport this June; the fundraising events are scheduled for Wednesday, June 8. Registration and more information will be available at https://www.iawea.org/event/2022-iawea-annual-conference/. 

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Committee Objectives

Safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities are an essential part of our lives. However, thousands of people die everyday from water related diseases and illnesses. Water For People is an organization dedicated to providing resources and support efforts to bring safe drinking water and sanitation facilities to developing countries. Iowa Water For People works within Iowa to promote and support he goals and objectives of Water For People.

To find out more about how you can help Water For People, contact the Iowa Water For People committee or visit www.waterforpeople.org.

Contact Us

Taylor Hopper, P.E.
Water For People Committee Chair
FOX Strand
414 S. 17th Street, Suite 107
Ames, IA 50010
P: 515.233.0000
E: [email protected]