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EPISODE#207
OC CATHOLIC RADIO: WELLS OF LIFE

Rick Howick, OC Catholic Radio host, interviews guests about important Catholic issues in the Diocese of Orange and throughout the world.

Pete Callahan, president along with Patricia Doyle, advisory board member, of Wells of Life shared their love and enthusiasm with listeners for Wells of Life.

Please visit www.wellsoflife.org for more information.

 

 

 

 

Originally broadcast on 7/25/20

WATER FOR UGANDA

Wells of Life annual Run4Water exceeded its fundraising goal by raising $123,206 to restore and repair 40 water wells. Run4Water is the sole fundraiser for the nonprofit Wells of Life, which provides access to clean, sustainable water for the communities of Uganda, Africa. 

Solano RCIA 2020, the team from San Francisco Solana Church in Rancho Santa Margarita generated $12,000 of the total, coming in second place in the competition. 

Originally planned for late April, organizers quickly moved to a virtual fundraising platform due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended Run4Water into early June.   

Wells of Life Founder and CEO Nick Jordan said, “The success of funding the restoration of 40 wells is a testament to our donors’ commitment to saving lives in Uganda by providing access to clean water.”  

Patricia Doyle oversees the RCIA at her parish, San Francisco Solano. The program provides classes for adults who want to join the Catholic faith.   

Doyle had been searching for something tangible tied to social justice to increase the students’ understanding of the word Catholic (or universal) and suggested the nonprofit Wells of Life.   

Of the effort, Doyle says: “Through Zoom meetings, emails and prayers, Team RCIA 2020 raised enough money for one new well and the cost to repair two additional wells; ultimately providing 3,000 people in Uganda the lifesaving gift of clean water.”  

WELLS FOR LIFE OVERFLOWS

Over 700 attendees participated in Wells of Life’s fourth annual Run4Water fundraiser held in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22 at Laguna Niguel Regional Park. Organizers were thrilled to accomplish their fundraising goal of recruiting 50 teams to fund 40 sustainable water wells for rural communities in Uganda, Africa. The top fundraising team from San Francisco Solano Church, RCIA (The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) in Rancho Santa Margarita raised $30,260. Run4Water featured 5K and 1K runs/walks, sponsor exhibit booths, give-aways, a Tesla auto exhibit, children’s activities and food trucks.  

Teams were encouraged to raise $6,000 to fund one water well that provides clean water to 1,000 villagers for up to 25 years. Wells of Life raises all overhead so 100% of donations fund the actual well production. Other top fundraising teams included Team Mike Martin at $12,635 and Team Stokas raised $12,340. Funds were also raised for wells in memory of the Rev. Billy Graham and Margaret Jordan, mother of Wells of Life founder Nick Jordan. 

Top overall race competitors were Cory Costa in the 5K male category with a time of 18:43, fol-lowed by John Wacker at 18:45. Sarah Diehl of Laguna Niguel finished first in the female division with a time of 20:59, followed by Sydney Lovejoy at 23:02. 

Festivities were led by Wells of Life founder and executive director Nick Jordan and president Pete Callahan. Run4Water sponsor Pedego Electric Bikes donated an electric bike valued at $2,295 won by longtime Wells of Life supporter Rick Cabral. Team Pedego also finished fourth in the fundraising category raising $12,556. Other opportunity prizes included a one-year family membership at Renaissance Club Sport, a two-night stay at Renaissance Club Sport and a Madrid skateboard.  

WELLS OF LIFE RAISES $160K FOR 30 WATER WELLS IN AFRICA

Villagers in Uganda will be the beneficiaries of the funds raised last month during a South Orange County run/walk event. Money raised will help fund the building of water wells in a region that suffers greatly from a lack of drinking water.

Some 700 attendees, both competitive runners as well as those who came just because they care about the mission of Wells of Life, participated in the organization’s second annual Run4Water event held at Laguna Niguel Regional Park. Organizers estimate net proceeds at $160,000 in support of sustainable water wells for villagers in Uganda, Africa. Run4Water featured 38 teams; over 600 race participants in 5K and 1K runs/walks, sponsor exhibit booths, give-a-ways, children’s activities, food booths and music.

The top three fundraising teams were Mater Dei High School that raised $18,201; Servite High School, with $12,171; and a group of young girls known as Precious Flowers that brought in $9,003. In seventh place was Rosary Academy, raising $6,810. The three high school teams together raised 30% of team fundraising proceeds totaling over $37,000.

Wells of Life Founder and Executive Director Nick Jordan said, “Today we saw a wave of generosity among hundreds of people that made up the Wells of Life community so that no one will lack clean water. Proceeds from Run4Water will fund 30 new wells that ultimately provide the gift of life and hope for thousands of families in Uganda’s poorest villages.

The fundraising goal for each team (made up of families, schools, churches and businesses) was $6,000 – enough to fund one water well and provide clean water to 1,000 villagers for an estimated 25 years. Wells of Life raises the overhead so that team donations fund 100% of the well production.

While the main draw was raising funds for water wells, many attend to compete. In the 5K event, Aaron Perry came in overall first place at a time of 16:27, Shane Brinson was in second at 17:26 and Vincent Lord Sarion came in third at 18:32. The top three female 5K runners were Amelia Kang at 20:20, Juliet Wisdom in second at 22:10 and Ella Williamson came in third at 22:32.

Event supporters and sponsors included Pedego Electric Bikes, Mission Viejo-based Custom Comfort Mattress and Madrid Skateboards.

For more information about Run4Water or Wells of Life, visit wellsoflife.org.

HEAVY WATER

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — Nearly 150 people walked around and around Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s track March 22—some trudging under the weight of large containers of water—to call attention to the shortage of clean water in some of the world’s poorest countries and to support well drilling efforts as part of World Water Day.

The event was sponsored by Wells of Life, an Orange County-based nonprofit organization dedicated to drilling clean water wells in Uganda. To date, the group has been responsible for the drilling of more than 100 wells.

Participants raised money by soliciting pledges for each lap of the track they walked. One young man, according to Wells of Life Board member and walker Peter Callahan, carried a full jerry can of water—five gallons of water weighing 45 pounds—for five miles.

The event raised approximately $18,000, said Callahan, enough to drill three wells.

Walkers who chose to carry water were, said Callahan, acting in solidarity with women and children in rural Uganda, who routinely walk between three and five miles a day to fetch water from a remote clean well and return home with at least one five-gallon can of water.

For more information about Wells of Life, go online to wellsoflife.org.