Water 1st – Beer 2nd Fun(d)raiser raises $30,000More than 300 people attend event at Hale's PalladiumMore than 300 guests braved the Seattle weather on Friday night and gathered for the 3rd annual Water 1st – Beer 2nd fun(d)raiser at Hale's Palladium on Friday, April 18th, where they enjoyed live music, food, and dancing in support of the work of Water 1st International. Over $30,000 was raised to support water, sanitation and hygiene education projects in Ethiopia, Honduras, India and Bangladesh. The Elecktralytes provided live music and guests danced while enjoying Hale’s beer and root beer. In keeping with the theme of the event, guests were given a list of beer and water facts (such as "$50, the equivalent of a keg of cheap beer provides training to the caretakers who maintain the water systems in Ethiopia") to demonstrate how their funds are being put to work in Water 1st projects. The winner of the Hawaiian get-away raffle was announced. Congratulations and aloha to Ty Cramer! Thank you to the Sheraton Kauai Resort and Diane and Brian Langstraat for the donation of the Kauai trip. Supporter and Ethiopia Water Tour participant Jon Hughes welcomed guests and talked about why he is involved with Water 1st. “I have seen first-hand people who have directly benefited from the support of Water 1st. It was an experience that changed my life.” Guests enjoyed a film featuring updates from Water 1st projects in Honduras. Marla Smith-Nilson, Executive Director of Water 1st, also spoke of her recent travels to Water 1st projects in Honduras and Ethiopia and thanked Water 1st donors for their continued support of projects that are making a difference in the lives of thousands of people. "Given the scope of this human tragedy, it would be easy to just throw up our hands. But we have not. Thanks to your support, our total number of beneficiaries is now 19,700. At the recent inauguration ceremonies in San Gabriel and Agua Caliente, Honduras, people said, ‘thanks to God and thanks to these North Americans who helped us with the water projects.’ These projects are so significant to them, that ordinary folks like you and me are thanked for our contributions right along side God.” Special thanks to Hale's BreweryWater 1st gratefully recognizes Hale’s Brewery for their generous and enthusiastic support of Water 1st. We would also like to bring special attention to our event volunteers and guests for their commitment to the work of Water 1st and helping the world’s poor meet their most basic need for safe water. Main Stage Comedy ClubThank you to Julie Mains and the Main Stage Comedy Club for providing free tickets to next Friday’s show for Water 1st Beer 2nd attendees. Event Committee and VolunteersSpecial thanks to the Water 1st–Beer 2nd committee – Jon Hughes, Nancy Carroll, Josh Epperson, and Pam Copeland – and all the great volunteers who helped make this event possible: Erin Barry, Kim and Carl Elder, Janine Logsdon, Deana Orth, Martha Ortiz-Williams, Rachel Schwartz, and Andrew Yuhasz. Related Links:
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