What is
Walk for Clean Water?
Launched in 2016 by a group of ambitious students in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Walk for Clean Water has since grown into a national movement of community-based walks that raise funds and awareness to fight the global water crisis. Student-led and youth-driven, we aim to see the end of the water crisis in our lifetime.
Walk for Clean Water is about taking action. Since its inaugural walk, over $156,000 has been raised to fund 13 clean water wells in the African nation of Swaziland––now the Kingdom of eSwatini––giving over 6,000 people clean water for life. At 3.75 miles, our walks symbolize the average distance those in developing countries walk every day to fetch water.
We believe in putting our money where our mouth is. That's why 100% of all donations to our walks directly fund clean water projects through our non-profit partner, Thirst Project.
Our Movement
What We're About
It all started with one question — "What would a movement to fight the global water crisis look like in central Pennsylvania?" — that has since transformed into a national movement.
Our movement is unique because we don't just combat the global water crisis, but we equip and empower youth around the country to be the changemakers leading the charge. We are comprised of ambitious students who are eagerly activating our communities to join the fight.
Students learn invaluable leadership and communication skills.
Communities unite around a cause that everyone can get behind.
Developing communities get access to sustainable clean water sources.
Everyone wins when we Walk for Clean Water.
How We Do It
Walk for Clean Water thrives as a collaborative effort within a collective global movement, mobilizing students to leverage the diverse strengths of their local communities to aid communities abroad. This strategy is unprecedented.
Walk for Clean Water and its nonprofit partner, Thirst Project, understand that American communities become engaged stakeholders when businesses, students, and families are all given hands-on opportunities to experience the water crisis and contribute towards fighting it.
The ultimate hands-on experience? A Walk for Clean Water. We equip and prepare student leaders to launch community-based walks that represent the journey taken by millions every day. Not your average charity fundraiser, these state-of-the-art events each raise thousands of dollars in an epic celebration that unites people from all walks of life.
The big idea? When we join together — as students, parents, businesses, communities — we truly have the power to tackle our world's biggest issues.
The Walk
A proven concept
3.75 miles long, the walk symbolizes the average journey made every day by
those in developing countries
Unites people of all ages from all walks of life
Utilizes unique aspects
of individual communities
Meet the Founders
Michael Miller
Co-Founder
A passionate advocate for clean water, Michael started activating his community to fight the water crisis during his junior year of high school. Since then, his fundraisers have raised over $45,000, earning him Thirst Project's 2017 Power of Youth Award and the opportunity to visit communities given clean water in the African country of Swaziland. Now a junior studying business at Penn State University, Michael works with students around the country to help empower them to launch clean water fundraisers.
Erica Wang
Co-Founder
Erica is a powerful force in the fight against the global water crisis. Since her junior year of high school, she's rallied her community to raise over $45,000, earning her Thirst Project's 2017 Power of Youth Award and the opportunity to visit communities given clean water in the African country of Swaziland. Now a junior studying business at Duke University, Erica uses her experience to coach and empower students across the country to launch successful clean water fundraisers of their own.
Our Impact
We believe in putting our money where our mouth is.
$156,000+
raised since 2016
13
clean water
wells funded
100%
of all donations directly
fund clean water projects
Over 6,000 people given clean water for life
jerrycans that will never need carried again
children that can now attend school
women that will have time to work
diseases that will never be contracted
smiles that now have hope and a future