About H2O For Life
H2O For Life
History
School to School
| "H2O for Life is the “sleeping giant” that lies within the potential of students and teachers in schools to raise funds to support people in need." |
How it All Began
H2O for Life began as an individual school
project at Highview Middle School in New
Brighton, Minnesota. The project was more
successful than anyone imagined. The initial
goal was to raise $10,000 for a water project in
the Kwa Kasolo area in Kenya, Africa, to provide
water to over 2000 residents. Realistically, we
hoped to raise between $6,000 and $7,000. Our
900 students embraced the project and raised
$13,000; they could have raised more! Since our
eighth grade student committee leaders wanted
to continue working with our partner community,
we make a connection with one of the schools in
the area and they will be adopting and funding
the Kathungu School project during their
freshman year in high school. The commitment
and enthusiasm of these students paved the
way for creation of H2O for Life’s plan to
organize school-to-school connections. We are
currently a 501c3, an all-volunteer organization.
H2O for Life began as an individual school
project at Highview Middle School in New
Brighton, Minnesota. The project was more
successful than anyone imagined. The initial
goal was to raise $10,000 for a water project in
the Kwa Kasolo area in Kenya, Africa, to provide
water to over 2000 residents. Realistically, we
hoped to raise between $6,000 and $7,000. Our
900 students embraced the project and raised
$13,000; they could have raised more! Since our
eighth grade student committee leaders wanted
to continue working with our partner community,
we make a connection with one of the schools in
the area and they will be adopting and funding
the Kathungu School project during their
freshman year in high school. The commitment
and enthusiasm of these students paved the
way for creation of H2O for Life’s plan to
organize school-to-school connections. We are
currently a 501c3, an all-volunteer organization.
H2O For Life School to School, All Rights Reserved 2007
The First Project
A committee of approximately fifteen students was formed and a parent volunteer,
joined the planning sessions. Ideas from the students were discussed during weekly
committee meetings and fundraising ideas were implemented. One of the secrets of the
success of this first project is that the students worded very hard to make this an all
school project rather than a classroom project. Activities that involved sales or donations
were affordably priced keeping in mind the demographics of the school population. As an
example, for a donation of a single nickel on Monday, dime on Tuesday and a quarter on
Wednesday, the student’s name was entered into a raffle for a prize. This event alone
raised over $1600.
Other activities that were coordinated by the committee include:
• Sale of wristbands with “H2O for Life” logo.
• Sale of a holiday craft item made by students (Raised over $1200)
• Raffles for donated prizes-Viking’s autographed football, Timberwolves
basketballs, sports tickets
• Hat Day-Students paid $1.00 to wear a hat during the school day. (Out of 900
students, we sold 780 Hat Day tickets.)
• Designed and sold cards with Kenyan pictures.
• Student presentations for the school board, Rotary International Clubs and other
civic groups
Amazingly, students not even involved in the committee organized their own fundraising
activities.
• Designed and displayed an informational presentation at church.
• Performed a special piano concert and donated admissions.
During the year, all students received information on the fundraising progress and were
involved in classroom activities centered on “water” and “Kenya.” It was an educational
and successful school year.
A committee of approximately fifteen students was formed and a parent volunteer,
joined the planning sessions. Ideas from the students were discussed during weekly
committee meetings and fundraising ideas were implemented. One of the secrets of the
success of this first project is that the students worded very hard to make this an all
school project rather than a classroom project. Activities that involved sales or donations
were affordably priced keeping in mind the demographics of the school population. As an
example, for a donation of a single nickel on Monday, dime on Tuesday and a quarter on
Wednesday, the student’s name was entered into a raffle for a prize. This event alone
raised over $1600.
Other activities that were coordinated by the committee include:
• Sale of wristbands with “H2O for Life” logo.
• Sale of a holiday craft item made by students (Raised over $1200)
• Raffles for donated prizes-Viking’s autographed football, Timberwolves
basketballs, sports tickets
• Hat Day-Students paid $1.00 to wear a hat during the school day. (Out of 900
students, we sold 780 Hat Day tickets.)
• Designed and sold cards with Kenyan pictures.
• Student presentations for the school board, Rotary International Clubs and other
civic groups
Amazingly, students not even involved in the committee organized their own fundraising
activities.
• Designed and displayed an informational presentation at church.
• Performed a special piano concert and donated admissions.
During the year, all students received information on the fundraising progress and were
involved in classroom activities centered on “water” and “Kenya.” It was an educational
and successful school year.
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