Festive Dinner Raises $183,000

The windows looked out on a blustery evening, but inside Benaroya’s elegant Samuel and Althea Stroum Grand Lobby, more than 400 guests enjoyed convivial dining and a purposeful program benefiting Water 1st International’s projects in four of the world’s poorest countries.

Marla Smith-Nilson, founder and executive director, told the story from her recent trips to Honduras, Bangladesh, and the Sundarbans in India. Passionate about solving the global water crisis, Marla described how Water 1st works with partner organizations in local communities to implement safe water systems, along with latrines, and provide health and hygiene education. The fourth country, Ethiopia, is next on the Water 1st agenda.

“Your support will save lives and change lives. You will give mothers and fathers the ability to create a better life for their children,” Marla said, noting that a billion people do not have clean, safe water, and five million die from water-related illnesses every year. Five dollars will bring an individual in Bangladesh clean, safe water for life, explained Marla, who has an M.S. in environmental engineering and fifteen years’ experience with humanitarian water projects.

Other memorable moments from the evening:

  • A captivating film from Marla’s recent trips depicted not only the poverty and lack of sanitation in impoverished communities but the excitement of completed projects—clean, safe water for community families, local people empowered for maintaining the system and record-keeping, children delightedly showering under a clean-water spigot.
  • A video greeting from Jim Donald, CEO and president of Starbucks Coffee Co., who with Kristin Anderson, a Starbucks partner and Water 1st board member, explained Starbucks’ commitment to water projects in developing countries through the sale of Ethos Water and the commitment of Starbucks employees.
  • Paige Hansen, KPLU-FM/NPR news host, emceed the program succinctly and with enthusiasm for the safe-water cause.
  • Congressman Jim McDermott, a member of the Water 1st Advisory Council, further emphasized the importance of empowering local communities, especially women, with leadership and ownership of their Water 1st project.
  • A $50,000 grant, designated for water projects in Ethiopia, from Covenant World Relief was announced.

For the program’s conclusion, guests opened their hearts and checkbooks and then awaited Event Chair Darryl Swenson’s grateful announcement: nearly $177,000 had just been raised (totalling $183,000 two days later)—funds that will go a long way in the months ahead to save and improve lives in India, Bangladesh, Honduras, and Ethiopia.

A Grateful Thank You

Special thanks to all individuals and businesses who contributed to the success of the Water 1st benefit dinner.

Corporate Sponsors:

  • Boeing
  • CH2MHILL
  • J.A.S. Design Build, Inc.
  • M.A. Mortenson Company
  • Northwest Business Bank
  • Saranjan Tours

Beverage Sponsors:

  • Corus Brands
  • Redhook Ale Brewery
  • Ethos Water and Starbucks Coffee Company