This year's Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (WUD) employee barbeque was dedicated to Water for People, an organization which builds water infrastructures in underdeveloped countries. The event was held on October 25 at the WUD administrative building located at 8100 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach. Approximately 250 water utilities employees attended, and $2,500 was raised.
"We are so fortunate in this country to have access to clean safe water. In many places women and girls spend a majority of their day walking to rivers miles away to collect water for cooking and cleaning. Many of those rivers are also used for bathing and often shared with animals. As a result, waterborne illnesses take the lives of approximately 4,500 children every day. Today we have a chance to make a difference, and I hope together we can help bring healthier, safer water to some of those people," said Palm Beach County Water Utilities Director Bevin Beaudet.
The biggest single donation came from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in the form of a $1,000 check. Director of the Palm Beach County Service Center Fred Rapach and Director of Media and Community Relations Aneta Sewell announced that the SFWMD was delighted to contribute to the cause. "The South Florida Water Management District is proud to support the Water for People organization. This is a fantastic effort to support strategies that will help the water crisis that many developing countries currently encounter," Sewell said.
In an effort to illustrate the problems third-world countries have with transporting water to their communities, beverages were served under a tent 100 yards away from the dining area. Other activities included a water relay where teams of five were posed with the task of carrying tubs of water on their heads, the most common way people carry water home from the rivers in countries like Guatemala and Bolivia.
For more information on Water for People, or to make a donation, visit www.waterforpeople.org.
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