When I received Alchemy's new challenge I started looking through various agents' blogs - I wanted to find a "new hero" from someone I was not yet friends with...
I came across
Holly Lufele's post on
DOC HENDLY, the founder of the organisation
Wine to Water and was immediately inspired - I used to work as a bartender throughout my studies (before I finally managed to get a job in the charity sector). Often you find really positive-minded people in the bar world, but they often lack the courage to "go out there and do something good".
On the Wine to Water web page I found the following information about Doc Hendley and Wine to Water:
Wine to Water founder - Doc Hendley
Doc Hendley is the founder and president of Wine To Water. In 2003 he
dreamed up the concept of the organization while bartending and playing
music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. In January of 2004
the first fundraiser was held and by August of that same year Doc was
living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the
government supported genocide. When Doc returned home in August of 2005
the haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to
continue building the organization he started two years before. In
2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for over three
years, Wine To Water became an official 501 (c) (3) and Doc's dream
finally became a reality. "When the idea came to me to start Wine To
Water the only real world job experience I had was tending bar. I
dreamed of building an organization that fought water related death and
disease using completely different methods than anyone else. So I
started raising money to fight this water epidemic the best way I knew
how, by pouring wine and playing music." Doc's dream, and now the goal
of Wine To Water, is to quench the thirst of the needy in a way that
sets them apart from the rest of the world.
And these are some links to press releases about him and his organisation:
about us
Wine To Water is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit aid organization focused on
providing clean water to needy people around the world. Over 1 billion
people in the world today lack access to adequate water and sanitation.
We are devoted to fighting this epidemic. Wine symbolizes fortune in
our society. Our goal is to give the fortunate population an
opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.
how we began
Wine to Water was a dream that became a reality in the beginning of
2004. We held our first fundraiser in Raleigh, North Carolina in
February of 2004 to see if in fact it was an idea that people would
respond to. The concept originally was to put on benefit wine events,
such as tastings, then use all of the money raised to support water
projects around the world. The first fundraiser was a great success.
With its success, and others to follow, came a confidence that Wine to
Water would continue to grow as an organization. As a result, wine
tastings became just one of many ways that we raise awareness and
support for the global water crisis. We have worked to provide clean
water and sanitation in many countries including Sudan, India,
Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Haiti.
press
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/30/heroes.doc.hendley/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/04/30/cnnheroes.hendley.pr... http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/04/30/cnnheroes.hendle... http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/04/30/cnnheroes.hendle...
Larry King Live
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/05/01/cnnheroes.hendle...
Take Part (takepart.com)
http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/03/23/world-water-week-qa-with-do...
MY NEXT STEP:I am going to try and get in contact with Doc Hendley and find out about volunteer opportunities within his organisation and I am going to spread the story of his achievements and mission to my bartending friends - who knows, a few of them might be inspired to follow his footsteps and found their own charity/social enterprise! Possibly we could even organise a fundraiser for Wine to Water...
Once again a MASSIVE THANK YOU TO HOLLY LUFELE for sharing this inspirational post!
Holly, I wish you all the best for your further evoking and I hope we get a chance to catch up soon (you seem to live in the same neck of the woods as me!)
I'll keep you all posted about the volunteer opportunities!
Emily
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