Wallets May Be Broke, But Spirit Ain’t Broken: Hope Found At Charity: Ball

Go HERE for more photos of this event by David X Prutting.

[Charity: Water Ball 2008, This Runway's A Tough Walk]
[Tim And Jason Do Charity Water]

Listening to Charity: Water founder Scott Harrison speak to the 2,500 people at the Metropolitan Pavilion on Monday night has left me feeling grateful. Maybe even hopeful. Socials, do-gooders and volunteers gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of Charity: Water and raise more money for the cause at the 3rd annual Charity: Ball. The most memorable part of the night was not finding out which social was wearing who’s designer gown or even discovering the silver tray filled with mini-chocolate mousses. I even put myself aside for one night and decided not to chase down a PMC photographer to validate my attendance at the event. The most memorable part of the night was the message: Hope and Change.

More story and photos below:

Scott acknowledged that the Global Economy has fallen on hard times this year. In some way, I could identify. In the last three months I lost my job. Shortly after that a fire in the apartment next door caused a big mess that for awhile left me feeling displaced in my own apartment. A few weeks later my roommate suddenly moved out rendering me to pay all of December rent by myself, when my financial situation was already not looking so hot. It has been very unstable. Yet through all of this, I have had water – A luxury that some people do not have.

After hearing the stories of villages in Africa, Bangladesh and Honduras who do not have access to clean water and how it affects their daily lives made me realize I’ve never had it so good. My problems in comparison are considered luxury problems. The story of Charity: Water and how it has helped around the world shifted my perspective.
Children do not go to school because of contaminated water which breeds illness, sanitary issues and dehydration. The women in some villages sometimes walk 4 to 5 hours a day carrying 40 to 50 pound jugs of water back to their homes from water sources which are dirty that “you wouldn’t even want to put your foot in” (according to Scott).

Some women spend a large percentage of their lives transporting water to their families – and that water is rarely safe for consumption. Cows and humans drink from the same water in villages, where the life expectancy is sometimes not even 45 years. The picture is grim.

Charity: Water has changed this situation by providing an essential key to hope: Water. By raising money and working with local partners in counties where water is needed most, wells have been built and the reality of bringing safe/clean drinking water to villages has materialized. The result is outstanding as lives are being saved and improved.

Since 2006, 1,030 water projects have been completed, bringing fresh water to 504,375 people. This has been done by generous donations, lots of volunteers and people like Scott who seek to make the world a better place. Now he, along with a full time staff of only 7 people at Charity: Water travels to third world countries and amasses people to work together to build wells, create a stable water supply and save lives. I have to admit, I choked up a little bit when Scott expressed his gratitude for being able to do what he does, “For 10 years I was such a jerk – and in the last three years I’ve had a chance to change that by helping bring water to people that need it the most.” It’s true; Mr. Harrison was a party promoter in New York prior to his not for profit life. Who knows, maybe the guy who got you to come to Marquis last Saturday could be helping build hospitals in India by 2011. I have to say, as a jaded and somewhat unemployed New Yorker, Scott Harrison has inspired me. Hope and change are possible at any level.