See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

Jennifer Renton isn’t a stranger to fundraising for charity: water. In the past few years, she’s run three campaigns(!) and brought clean water to hundreds of people in Ethiopia, Mozambique and India.

But this year she’s going even bigger.

Not only is Jennifer giving up her birthday… she’s also repurposing coffee sacks into beautiful tote bags to raise money for clean water. 100% of the profits from the bags (which come from Africa, South and Central America) go to her campaign, and as a result, she’s already crushing her $5,000 goal.

“I hope by helping to provide clean water, girls and mothers have more time for important activities like going to school and caring for their families. Water is one of our most basic needs and it’s hard to believe that so many people do not have access to clean water. Sometimes I feel like my contribution is so small that it doesn’t matter, but all that fades away when I see the wells and happy faces. It’s just a drop in the bucket but at least it’s a drop.“

Thank you for your inspiration, support and creativity, Jennifer. And thank you for making this world both brighter and sweeter!

Jennifer Renton’s Totes for Water Campaign: my.charitywater.org/totesforwater-1

We made this Valentine Video Card just for YOU — our amazing supporters who make our work possible every day. We also just wanted to put a smile on your face!

P.S. No paid actors were used in the filming of this video. The charity: water staff are just this fun. :)

P.P.S. A huge thank you to Brooke Fraser for giving us the perfect song.

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! Enjoy…

From handmade goods in developing countries to one-to-one products, we’ve seen more socially-conscious gifts this year than ever before. And we want to share some of our favorites.

Here are 16 gifts you’ll feel great about giving:

1. Bears for Humanity
These plush, 100% organic cotton and hemp teddy bears are made by people in the Welfare to Work Program in Union City, California. And when you buy one, you get to choose a charity where its mate will go.

2. Water Changes Everything Cookbook
When we say “water changes everything,” we mean everything. To make that point even more real, we teamed up with 10 of our favorite chefs, bakers, and food-makers to create a beautiful holiday cookbook filled with recipes that change dramatically when you take away water as an ingredient. With a simple donation to charity: water, you can bring delicious meals to your table while bringing clean water to tables around the world.

3. Bomba Socks
Everyone needs a comfy pair of socks to wear during the chilly holiday season! These cushy footies come in bright colors and varying styles. And for each pair sold, another is donated to a homeless shelter (socks are among the most-requested items in shelters!). In the two years they’ve been around, Bomba Socks have donated over 600,000 pairs of socks to homeless shelters around the country.

4. Jambox
Give your audio some visual punch with this awesome Jerry Can Yellow Jambox. It will give you sound big enough to fill any space, in a size small enough to carry around. This limited edition Jambox comes from our partnership with Jawbone, and each one helps fund our operating costs so we can bring more clean water to people in need.

5. Local + Lejos Akazi Bowl
Help your favorite host share the love far beyond her living room. Local + Lejos partners directly with artisans around the world to curate an exquisite and unique home décor collection. The Akazi Bowl, for example, was handcrafted in Rwanda by the Kwizera Cooperative. In addition to sustainable work and fair wages, the women get empowerment training, learn financial management, get health insurance, and can keep their children in school. Each bowl sold allows the artist to pay for annual health insurance for one family member.

6. Mizu Water Bottle
Quench your own thirst while helping us create a world where no one is thirsty. This water bottle, made by our friends at MIZU, will come in handy when you’re climbing a mountain, riding your bike across the country, or just picnicking with some friends.

7. Sevenly The Mountains Are Calling Tee
Based on a core belief that “People Matter,” the founders of Sevenly began a journey to do their part in helping to change the world for the better. By creating trendy graphic and social-statement shirts like this The Mountains Are Calling tee for men and women, Sevenly is on a mission to lead a generation of generosity by supporting a different cause each week and donating 7% of sales.

8. Ona Camera Strap
Here at charity: water, we believe in using inspiring images to help tell the story of how clean water is transforming lives around the world. With the Sahel Camera Strap, which is part of our partnership with ONA Bags, we encourage you to take beautiful photos, explore your world, and tell the stories that need to be told while helping us continue to tell stories and bring clean water to people in need.

9. Sseko Designs Ribbon Sandals
Women in Uganda hand-make these elegantly simple ribbon sandals so they’re able to hold their own economically and pursue a university education. The fashion brand, which employs 50 women, says it has helped at least 60 former employees go on to university.

10. Sudara This Shirt Does Good Tee
Best known for its chill t-shirts and comfy-but-cute pajamas, Sudara forges partnerships
with indigenous organizations to create sewing centers that train Indian women escaping sex trade so they can have productive, healthy, and free lives. That’s a momentous task, given the high rate of human trafficking there – the country is home to an estimated more than 3 million sex workers, many of whom are believed to be victims of exploitation. Your purchase of this shirt can do good, just like it says.

11. Purefix Cycles
Up your street status while upping awareness for the cause. These bikes are part of our partnership with Pure Fix Cycles, a team of fixed-gear and single-speed bike builders in LA. There are two color combos and plenty of sizes available.

12. 31 Bits Saguaro Necklace
Looking for a pretty gift that has a major social impact, too? 31 Bits is another Ugandan enterprise that uses fashion and design to empower people to rise above poverty. They help to empower women by providing good jobs, education, and a plan for the future – all within a supportive community – through sales of festive, earthy jewelry. The beads on this necklace were made from recycled paper! To date, at least 16 women have “graduated” from the program to build their own businesses.

13. Votivo Candle
The scent’s name, “crisp, clean, white” was inspired by clean water. It’s nothing
overpowering, just the right amount of “oh my gosh, it smells incredible in here!” But this candle isn’t just about smelling good, all the profits support our staff and operating costs and help charity: water grow so we can continue bringing clean water to people all around the world.

14. Soma Black Pitcher
Black is back with our partner, Soma’s Black Pitcher. This limited-edition pitcher is stylish, goes with everything, and does a world of good. With every pitcher sold, Soma will donate $15 to charity: water that will go directly to funding clean water projects in Cambodia. But you have to act quick, there are only 2,400 of these one-of-a-kind pitchers!

15. Krochet Kids The Watchman Hat
What started as just three snowboarding enthusiasts crocheting their own hats to wear on the slopes has turned into something so much more. Krochet Kids now works to empower people to rise out poverty by teaching women in Northern Uganda and Peru how to crochet everything from hats and scarves to t-shirts and backpacks. And what’s even cooler? Every product they make is hand-signed by the woman who made it.

16. The Created Co Gather Water Bottle
Inspired by our Who’s At Your Table campaign, The Created Co designed this beautiful glass bottle for when you and your loved ones gather around your table this holiday season. With every purchase of this swing-top water bottle, The Created Co will donate $10 to charity: water to help us bring clean water to people in need.

Even the charity: water staff who’ve never met Sarah Peck know her name. She’s famous in our office. Not for the number of campaigns that she’s run or even the amount of money she’s raised… but forone very crazy promise she made years ago.

It was 2012. 28-year-old Sarah had just heard charity: water’s founder, Scott, speak at Chris Guillebeau’s World Domination Summit, and she was fired up. She wanted to do something to help bring clean water to people in need, and there wasn’t time to wait.

Within 48 hours, Sarah had created her fundraising campaign. She set a $29,000 goal (for her 29th birthday) and announced her terms:

“If enough people donate a crazy amount of money, I promise to swim from Alcatraz to San Francisco in the murky, cold waters — in nothing but my birthday suit.”

Yep. You read that correctly. Sarah Peck volunteered to swim 1.5 miles in freezing cold water, wearing only a swim cap, to raise money for clean water.

“Water is incredibly important to me because it’s what makes me feel at home. I have the luxury of splashing around in giant bodies of water and I realized that some people don’t have enough to stay clean, I want to change that.”

The first $7,000 came quickly. But soon things started to slow down. Even though $29 donations were coming in from all over the place, it still felt like the needle wasn’t moving. That’s when Sarah’s competitive side really came out.

“I made it my personal mission for several weeks to ask as many people as I could — and to ask everyone I came in contact with, whether or not I knew them! I ended up taking taxis and using the ride time to share the story, and drivers would donate my fare or a cup of coffee to the cause, and I’d translate that into donations.”

With the help of 460 donations, Sarah didn’t just reach her $29,000 goal, she surpassed it. Her final tally: $32,398. Which meant that it was time to push aside fears of sharks, tides and giant ships and fulfill her promise.

She studied tide charts, hired a boat captain, notified the Coast Guard. And on a cold day at the end of September 2012, she became a charity: water legend.

It’s fair to call it crazy. Everyone at charity: water calls it crazy. Sarah herself called it crazy.

But crazy is what makes it memorable. Crazy is what inspired hundreds of donors. And, in this case,crazy is what brought clean water to more than 650 people in Ethiopia.

“At the end of the day, my discomfort came from being cold for about an hour, and breaking through some of my social insecurities to ask people for money — that’s nothing compared to not having access to water.”

In addition to the people who took part in her campaign, and the taxi drivers and baristas she befriended, Sarah has inspired every one of us. Our slogan, “the craziest thing we can do is nothing,” was written with her in mind. And her campaign is one we will share forever.

Thank you, Sarah, for giving your voice, your time and your humility to our cause. Here’s to the crazy ones, indeed.

“The world is not transactional. Love and light are expansive. Giving isn’t part of a zero-sum game. When you give, you don’t lose — you get something else in return, and the world keeps moving.”

-Sarah Peck, one of the crazy ones

Some days we’re better at being adults than others. Today is not one of those days. Halloween justhappens to be something we’ve always taken pretty seriously at charity: water.

Highlights from our office this year include: a very lovable Garth and Kat, a very terrifying set of twins from the Shining, a human taco, some mac n cheese, Amelia Earhart, a ship captain, an ape, a viking, a Frank head and some very scrappy ninja turtles. Enjoy.

Also– did you see our Snapchat (@charitywater) this morning?!

Two years ago, humanitarian photographer Esther Havens met a young boy named Jean Bosco as a charity: water well was being drilled in his village. Since then, she’s photographed hundreds of people around the world for charity: water. She recently revisited that first village and met up with Jean Bosco again. Here is her story.

All I could hear was my heart thumping.

I walked a familiar dusty road with a camera in my right hand, a stack of photos in my left. I was on a mission to find Jean Bosco.

My world first collided with his two years ago when I traveled to Rwanda with an organization called Wishing Well Africa. We spent three days in his village, Murinja. Each morning, we followed people as they collected drinking water from small, murky ponds and watched them fill their Jerry Cans from the same place where animals sloshed and women washed their laundry. People here spent hours walking for water that made their kids sick. Their kids constantly complained of stomach aches.

I remember the first time I saw Jean Bosco; I took a photo of him immediately. He was a bashful boy but his face resembled maturity beyond his years. He showed me his home. He walked me along the path he used every day to collect pond water.

Like Jean Bosco, I never knew you could drill a hole into the ground and drinkable water would come spewing out.

I wondered if he’d ever know how many people would recognize his face. Without a clue, this one boy had helped bring clean water to villages all over the world by inspiring others to help.

But I saw this first-hand. The day we arrived in Murinja luckily corresponded with the day a charity: water well was drilled. Jean Bosco and I stood side by side and watched as the drilling rig bore into the earth, finding water 70 feet below. We rejoiced together when clean water gushed out of a new well that was a short walk from his home. We knew then that life for him and his neighbors would never be the same.

I left Murinja unsure if I’d ever see him again. But I couldn’t forget Jean Bosco. I shared his story with charity: water, and they shared his story with the world. Before I knew it, he was famous. His face debuted at the charity: water Saks Fifth Avenue gala and showed up at other fundraising events and exhibitions in NYC. I got calls and emails from people so moved by his story that they sponsored wells, started their own fundraising campaigns or in one instance, named a pet after him (the African Grey Parrot at Sea World is lovingly named “Jean Bosco”).

Jean Bosco’s story offered a sobering look at life for millions of kids in the developing world. But to many, he became a symbol of hope and inspiration. Villages like his don’t have to keep drinking brown pond water. All they need is a little help.

In April 2010, charity: water asked me to return to Rwanda. Anticipation mounted as I took off for Murinja Village with water program director Becky Straw and multimedia producer Mo Scarpelli on a crisp Saturday morning. We passed the murky pond where the community once collected water and children fell in step behind us near the freshwater well. I pulled out a couple of photos from years before and asked if anyone recognized Jean Bosco. They giggled at the sight of their friend -– yes! He was nearby! They could show me.

I heard the familiar seesaw-like sound from the well; kids were pumping away, filling their Jerry cans, and I even recognized a few. I asked if they remembered their well’s drilling or if remembered me. “Last time, my hair was white, like Santa Claus,” I explained. A few laughed and said something in Kinyarwandan. “They say you are the same,” our translator told us. “But your hair was like an old man before, so you are younger now.”

“Jean Bosco!” A chorus of excitement rang out as a slight, graceful boy stepped up a small hill where I stood.

I was taken aback -– Jean Bosco looked the same! He was a little taller but his face was indistinguishable. Becky and Mo recognized him from the six-foot tall photo that hung in the charity: water office, a world away.

I handed him printed photos of himself. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He hesitated. Then a smile broke out on his face. He reached over — and hugged me. I was flattered and surprised. He remembered me! And he knew why the charity: water well was important to his community.

“We used to get sick,” he told us as his younger brother held tight to his side. “We don’t get sick now.”

“Our stomach pains are gone,” other children chimed in. I scanned the small crowd forming around us and recognized a young woman.

“Clarisse!” She smiled back up at me, bent slightly forward with a new baby on her back. She told us she watched the drilling two years ago while pregnant with her first child. “I knew the water would be safe for my baby,” she told us. “I was relieved.”

We asked her if the new well affected her in other ways.

“Before, I could not get clean,” she told us. “Now, I am shining. I am clean!”

Just two years of clean water transformed this village -– and I got to see it with my own eyes. As I stood with Jean Bosco again near his well before saying goodbye, I wondered if he’d ever know how many people would recognize his face. Without a clue, this one boy had helped bring clean water to villages all over the world by inspiring others to help.

This is why I tell stories, this is why I get close to the people I photograph and this is why I share their heart. Jean Bosco doesn’t yet fully understand the impact of his story. But I’ll keep telling it forever.

– Esther Havens with Mo Scarpelli

Ryan first learned about charity: water after following Instagrammers that were sharing our organization’s mission along with their charity: water campaigns (I love how community grows both organically and digitally — here’s to you, Internet!). He was inspired by our message and our model and boldly decided to take his first step in combating the water crisis by using his 21st birthday to fundraise for clean water.

His campaign concept? A personified Jerry Can.

Ryan is currently advertising his 21st birthday campaign on Instagram (@ryanjaydee) and wants to bring this symbol of the Jerry Can to life. In his words, “If you don’t already know, the Jerry Can is the symbol of charity: water because it represents the people in developing countries that have to carry containers to store their drinking water. When filled up it weighs about 40 pounds. It’s a part of these millions of people’s lives because they have to carry it for long distances to get water for their families. charity: water describes it as a “hope to change” and I completely agree with that. That’s why I want to personify this Jerry can and make people aware of the this problem!“

Ryan, happy 21st birthday! We celebrate you, and we thank you for the impact you’re making in this world.

Ryan’s Water Campaign: my.charitywater.org/ryans-water-campaign

See The President’s entire speech and transcript here >

The Washington Post’s On Faith blog picked up on the charity: water mention, too. Read the brief message from Scott called “Faith and the Waters of Change” in WaPo here >

When I stared working at charity: water three years ago, the adjective I would’ve used to describe gaming would not have been “philanthropic.”

The U-Pick Video Game Marathon is a perfect example of how wrong I was.

These guys and girls have now run THREE campaigns for charity: water and raised more than $8,000 for clean water projects. Not only that, but they’ve done it by having fun.

The U-Pick team gives people the option to choose games for them to play by making a donation to clean water. Then they play the most popular video games for 48 hours … straight! And they broadcast the entire thing (which you can watch live from June 12th at 8PM EST through June 14th at 8PM here: http://www.upickvg.com/watch-now).

The dedication this crew has to bringing clean water to people in developing countries leaves me speechless (which isn’t easy). I cannot wait to watch them beat their $5,000 goal this month!

UPickVG IV – Video Game Marathon Campaign: my.charitywater.org/upickvg-iv-video-game-marathon

1.5 million.

That’s the number of people who have gained access to clean and safe water thanks to our brand partners. We are incredibly grateful for this community of like-minded brands and their ability to raise awareness for the water crisis in powerful and creative ways.

To celebrate their work and inspire new collaborations, we hosted our third annual Brand Partnership X Summit at Canoe Studios in NYC! This year, we were joined by over 65 brands for a day of insightful conversations. We focused on innovation and what it means for our work at charity: water, in partnerships, and in the world around us. From groundbreaking sensor technology and the launch of The Pool to jewelry crafted from meteorites and sprinkle-filled rainbow cakes, we left feeling inspired to keep creating and pushing the boundaries.

Check out the highlights from this year’s event:

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us. The Summit would not have been possible without our speakers who generously gave their time to help us see how purposeful innovation can drive change. A very special thank you to:

Professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway, for showing us the importance of having a meaningful career and helping us understand our life strategies, not just business strategies.

Kristin De Simone and Sylvia Hartley, Partners at Thrive Market, for sharing the story of how Thrive Market decided to partner with charity: water and for reimagining what giving means for their brand and customers.

Simon Sinek, optimist and bestselling author, for teaching us what it means to feel fulfilled and reminding us that we need to build the future together.

Artist and designer Monique Péan, for sharing her story and inspiring us with her incredible craft and unwavering commitment to sustainability and support of local communities.

Paull Young, Partner at Facebook, for showing us what being a true partner really means and encouraging the importance of working in tandem to create change.

Amirah Kassem, baker and entrepreneur, for urging us to be our true selves and demonstrating how working hard and inspiring joy can go hand-in-hand!

Another special thank you to Canoe Studios for the beautiful space and delicious catering; Taylor Creative for the comfortable and stylish furnishings; Badger Mountain Vineyard and Sunday Beer Co for providing the wine and beer for cocktail hour; Thrive Market and Scott Galloway for helping us fill our swag bags; C2 Imaging for printing and installing the stunning branding elements; Dear Bayard for the beautiful greenery; The Spaniard for hosting our pre-event cocktail party; and all of the volunteers who worked tirelessly and joyfully to ensure the day went off without a hitch.

To learn more about our brand partnerships or to get your brand involved, please contact: brandpartnerships@charitywater.org