charity: water

campaign: Silas and Addie’s Water Project
raised so far: at least $315
has been fundraising since: January 17, 2012
mission statement: “After learning more about charity: water’s work, I know we can make a dent in the global water crisis. We would love to raise $5,000 to build clean water projects for people in need.”

First off, let’s start out by introducing your kids, Silas and Addie: 
Silas is six years old and in kindergarten. Adoniah (Addie) is four years old and goes to preschool. They love to be outside, play games and be with their friends and family.

Where did you first learn about charity: water?
I read about charity: water in Relevant magazine. When I saw the statistics and the desperate need for clean water in our world, I was moved. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to give my children water that was full of dirt and germs, but this is the only choice some have. It’s either dirty water or thirst. 

I tried to empathize with those parents, and when I did, I knew that I had to donate; even if it was only $20. When I went to the website, I realized that you can make your own campaign. My husband Michael and I had been trying to think of ways that our family could make a difference. Our goal is to have a non-profit farm and raise food for local charities that feed children; but we wanted a way for our kids to experience giving now. 

Our kids really have a lot, even though we live in a small apartment on Iowa State University’s campus. When I heard them ask for things they do not need (like more toys, different food, a bigger house) and listen to them whine when I say no — I realized that I had to help them understand that they have more than enough and that there are children in the world who struggle to even survive. 

Jesus asked us to love others, and I wanted them to realize that that love goes beyond just being nice to friends and being respectful to people: it means that we are to show them love by meeting their needs and caring for them. 

So what made Silas and Addie decide to try and help kids around the world get clean, safe drinking water?
After I saw that we could start our own campaign, I showed Silas and Addie the video “Water Changes Everything”. They were really moved by it.

They asked (and still ask) to watch it over and over again. I asked them if they would like to help raise money to give these people clean water and they said “YES!” They were very excited to be able to help.

I have already seen a change in their attitude toward what we have. The kids ask me to check the progress of their campaign every day, and Silas has talked about it at school. Basically, when they saw the video and realized there were so many children suffering because of dirty water, they really wanted to be able to help.

How have Silas and Addie spread the word?
Silas and Addie made a short video and we put it online. They love making videos together and watching them, and our friends and family always enjoy them. 

So we thought that making a video would be a fun and easy way to share their message and raise money for charity: water. We plan to make a few more over the course of the campaign. Basically, we are trying to get people to realize the need and respond with a donation. 

Ok, now Addie and Silas, why do you want to raise money for clean water?
Silas: “I want to do that because those people don’t have clean water and I don’t want those people to die. And also because those people have been made by God and He wants them to have healthy lives.”
Addie:  “Because its dirty water! It is so dangerous for the kids!”

What has been the greatest challenge of campaigning so far?
So far, a lot of people have shared the video because they thought it was really cute. We just hope that people look beyond the kids’ age and what they are saying and see the deeper message.  

Any advice for others who are thinking of fundraising?
Definitely do it! It is so easy. All I had to do was set up the page and start spreading the word. I would definitely recommend parents do this with their children. It would be very easy for children’s groups and schools to do.

Ok, one more question, this time for Silas and Addie… what would you say to the kids who will get clean water as a result of your campaign?
Silas: “I will pray for you. I hope you can go to school and maybe play soccer or something, too.”
Addie: “Hi, I’m  Addie. Can you go to school, too? Jesus loves all the kids.”

campaign: Alcohol Free for a Year!
raised (in three campaigns): at least $1,136
has been fundraising since: May 18, 2011
mission statement: “I am just like any other 20-something who likes to party and ‘have a good time’. But I always wanted to do something more. I am willing to give up alcohol for an entire year (May 18, 2011 to May 18, 2012) or by the time I reach $1,000, whichever comes first, for this great cause.”

So, what was it about charity: water that made you decide to start a campaign?
I first heard about charity: water in a Zappos All Hands meeting where Scott was a guest speaker. I was deeply inspired after his speech. I love that charity: water has the awesome idea of raising money due to an act or birthdays, which means anyone can do it! Plus the guaranteed that 100% goes to where it should.

Where’d you get the idea to go alcohol free for a year?
I wanted to do something challenging and special so that when I told someone about the campaign, they would be impressed and support me. Being a 22 year-old (I am now 23) guy living in Vegas working at Zappos, I immediately realized that alcohol is a pretty normal and given thing for me. Therefore, I wanted to challenge myself for this great cause.

Zappos is known for fun staff culture. What was it like to go to these and not be able to drink?
It was tough, really tough. It is not mandatory to drink at the events. However, it was my source of blowing off stress and having fun with my family (yes, my co-workers = my family). I had to constantly remind myself that I am doing it for a cause. Eventually I have gotten used to it, having fun at events while being sober, D.D. [designated driver], and the responsible one for my friends when needed. I swear, I am not an alcoholic; I don’t drink to be drunk. But still, as time goes by, it didn’t get easier.

You reached your campaign goal of $1,000 before the year was up: how did you do it and how long did it actually take?
When I first started the campaign, I told everyone — literally everyone — about it: friends, family, co-workers, Facebook, Twitter and text. A lot of friends supported me, but my circle is limited. It took me around six and a half months to raise a little over half of my goal.

As Christmas and New Years approached, half way-ish through the campaign, I started to ask everyone I knew who hadn’t donated yet to donate. And couple of my close friends at Zappos actually just started a “Get Timmy To Drink fund”. Their chain of thought was, “if we could raise another $400, Timmy can drink on New Year’s Eve.” And within 30 minutes of their help, more than $400 was raised and the goal was reached! It took seven months to reach $1,000. As of now, I’m at $1,136 raised.

So how did your friends actually start the “Get Timmy to Drink fund”?
One of them sent out an email to our tech email list, saying, “If you want to help Timmy reach his goal, come over to Jimmy’s desk and donate some money into the Hennessy bottle. Be sure to write the amount you donated since the top three will get to choose what Timmy drinks!”

They literally just grabbed the first empty liquor bottle here in office and started this thing. There was a paper to put a request of the shot I will be having with them as soon as I can drink. If you go to my most recent campaign (Part 3), some of the comments are shot requests, e.g. “I want you to drink Patron!”.

Did you do anything to celebrate?
Around 1 p.m., I hit the $1,000 mark — and I had to take a shot in front of everyone there at the office. And four or five more shot requests followed up… I didn’t really complete any work that day. And after work, there was a Happy Hour with my team and a bunch of friends to celebrate (more drinks).

Have you had a drink since that time?
I have only had one drinking encounter since at the office and a New Years party. That was when my friends were in town from out of the country.

Has the break from alcohol taught you anything bigger?
Oh, yes. It is not just about raising money. I love doing challenges where it is difficult and it is part of training my mental strength as well. It is a win-win situation; it benefits the world and me.

And now I think I have become a better and different person. I have seen both worlds: one is where alcohol exists to me, and the other, it does not. I used to drink to have fun, but now I realize that being sober can be fun as well in social events. To an extent, I see how it feels like when something taken for granted is taken away from me. Even though I can drink now, I barely do, and when I do, I act differently. I see the world in a new way now, I can’t really explain it but I love this new me.

Any advice for those interested in starting a campaign of their own?
My advice to those interested in starting a campaign is simply just do it! In my case, when I figured what I was going to do, it still took me a while to start it because I was scared. Then I talked to my mentor about it, and he literally said, “Just do it.” He knew that I just needed that little push to step my foot in it and commit. If you are thinking about it, just commit and do it. It was such a fun, exciting, and challenging commitment. At the end, the accomplishment feeling is amazing.