Proceeds from the event in this inaugural year will benefit “A Glimmer of Hope Foundation” based in Austin, Texas which focuses on projects in Ethiopia. Because this foundation pays all of its operating expenses through an endowment, it is able to offer a unique opportunity to its gracious donors who help some of the poorest people in the world, one that sees every dollar donated get to where it is needed. 100% of all donations go directly to funding these projects, more than 4,000 projects to date. Over the last 10 years, A Glimmer of Hope has improved 2.5 million lives.
The funds raised from the event will primarily go toward specific projects providing clean water for Ethiopians, as obtaining clean water is the biggest single challenge for most each day in rural Ethiopia. The statistics are truly astounding. Only one person in ten has access to clean water. 80% of all illness is due to dirty water. 250,000 children die each year from diarrhea. One Ethiopian child in ten dies before its fifth birthday with half of those dying from diarrhea.
In addition, women and children walk to collect water from polluted sources – their loads can weigh upwards of 60 pounds. This grueling work shortens lives and steals futures as women in rural Ethiopia rarely live to see 50. A Glimmer of Hope Foundation is stepping in to fix this problem offering hope and help, with dignity, to those who suffer unnecessarily from the injustice of poverty in rural Ethiopia.
While a Glimmer of Hope Foundation is also tackling a broader range of projects in Ethiopia including health care, schools, irrigation and many more projects that serve as the building blocks for improved infrastructure and quality of life, the organizers of the Strides for Africa run would like to focus on providing the necessity of clean water. Each tapped spring water source or water well is protected at the source and maintained by well-trained Ethiopians. It is estimated that these well-designed systems can provide a clean water source for up to thousands of people for 15-20 years.
Through photos, video, and GPS coordinates, donors personally experience how their contributions, large and small, are changing lives. By participating in the Strides for Africa event, you can choose to receive e-mail updates throughout the year on the project we complete together and the lives touched by it.
A Glimmer of Hope listens to and partners with communities to build and maintain projects, ensuring sustainability. Recently, founders Donna and Phillip Berber were ranked #6 globally on Barron’s list of “The Best 25 Givers”, based on effectiveness and impact.
The Strides for Africa organizers in conjunction with the African Association of Madison have plans to evaluate expanding the number of charitable organizations with the growth of the event to benefit other African nations in need in future years.