DEAR FRIENDS AND TSP SUPPORTERS,
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Greetings from beautiful Santa Monica, California where I am honored to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of The Samburu Project (TSP). As a friend and supporter of TSP, you have no doubt heard the story of our founder, Kristen Kosinski's life-altering visit to Kenya in 2005 and the ten years that followed. Like Kristen, I too visited Kenya in 2005, where I encountered hundreds of women and girls walking with yellow jerry cans on their heads. Being an art dealer for the past 30 years, I live with images, and the images of these women and girls were powerful and haunting. As a woman, I couldn't help but wonder about the lives of these women. How heavy were those jerry cans full of water? How far were they going and how often must they do this chore? The experience of seeing these beautiful Kenyan women and girls walking for water was the catalyst for my own volunteer experience with TSP.
When I attended the TSP 25 Wells celebration in 2010, I was inspired by the work Kristen and her small staff had achieved and joined The Samburu Project's army of volunteers. I first hosted an event at Manny Silverman Gallery to introduce TSP to friends and colleagues. I then joined the board in 2012 and began assisting with events and fundraising. I am sure I've met many of you at our previous Walks for Water; our Face of Water photography exhibition; or our Splash Bash gala events. In 2013, I was asked to assume the role of Board Chair and along with Kristen we participated in the prestigious Annenberg Alchemy training for non profits. Last fall, I was in Samburu to witness the start of our 2015 well drill and had my own life-altering experience. You can read more about it on the TSP blog, Samburu Stories. (https://samburustories.wordpress.com) During the past 10 years, TSP's well count grew to 82 and I am excited to report that we will be drilling our 83rd well in the coming week!
Like many of you, I have become all too aware of the global plight of women and girls and wanted, in my own way, to be a force for change in the world. The fact that TSP has provided clean water to over 80,000 people is an achievement that I share with Kristen, our past and current board members and staff, and each of you who have made that happen. Looking toward the future, big things are on the horizon for TSP. Since January I have been working with our development consultant and our new board chair Alan Leavitt to take TSP into the next phase of growth.
- We are forming a very exciting corporate partnership with Latham & Watkins law firm that will give TSP a global presence.
- For the first time, there will be runners in the London marathon wearing TSP jerseys.
- Our new website will be launching early this summer.
- We have made exciting advancements in our internal database system with SalesForce, through a grant from the Taproot Foundation.
Our 7th annual Walk for Water in Hermosa Beach is around the corner on Sunday, April 17th. I am urging you to help us make the event a title wave of success. Please register and join us for our beach walk and pancake breakfast.
(http://walkforwater2016.org)
If you don't live in Los Angeles, you can still join the event by putting together a group of friends and have a "virtual walk" in your own neighborhood. We already have teams in North Salem, New York; Detroit, Michigan; Stamford, CT; and San Francisco, CA. Check out the website or give us a call for more information on how to support our efforts in your home town. You walk, we'll send you a t-shirt and some cool TSP swag.
World Water Day is March 22. Look for our social media campaign #buyagirladrink and help spread the word about TSP by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
I look forward to seeing you in person in the near future. Until then, thank you in advance for your continued support. With clean water, TSP is giving the Samburu people a way out of poverty, one drop at a time. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH WATER.
With best regards,
Linda Hooper
{UAH} IMPEACHMENT THE ONLY ASPRIN OF DEMOCRATS
{UAH} Watch "President asks Ugandans in exile to return" on YouTube
{UAH} MARKERS DEMOCRATS IGNORED AS THEY WERE RUNNING INTO THE IMPEACHMENT DEATH CAMP
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