Grundfos Addresses Global Water Crisis through Events at Kauffman Stadium
Annual Walk for Water and Water Awareness Night raise funds and awareness for those without clean water
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One in every eight people – 884 million worldwide – lacks access to safe water. Because of this, 1.8 million children die each year from diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.
Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump manufacturing with U.S. sales headquarters in Olathe, Kan., in conjunction with the Kansas City Royals, presents an opportunity to change this through its second annual Kansas City Walk for Water and Water Awareness Night on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at Kauffman Stadium.
Kansas City Walk for Water
The Walk, which begins at 3 p.m., supports Water Missions International, a non-profit engineering organization that provides communities in the developing world with sustainable safe water solutions, many of which utilize Grundfos’ solar- or wind-powered water pumping technology.
“Grundfos’ partnership with Water Missions International has allowed us to connect incredible technology with incredible need,” said Terry Teach, director of Business Development for Grundfos North America. “Our expertise in the water industry gives all of us at Grundfos a unique opportunity to help those who go through so much to obtain their daily water.”
The Walk for Water is a non-competitive, educational event that mimics the trek of those who walk almost four miles per day to provide their families with what is often contaminated water. Halfway through the 3.5-mile walk, participants will fill three-gallon buckets with water, simulating the true burden of life in a developing nation.
Grundfos anticipates a repeat of last year’s successful inaugural Walk, which raised $50,000 to fund sustainable safe water solutions for the 4,900 villagers of Dauphine and Rossignol, Haiti. The funds also covered the training needed to sustain the systems and the hygiene lessons needed to prevent contamination.
“Grundfos’ support of Water Missions International truly shows that its values are more than words on a page,” said Lauren Jernigan, regional coordinator for Water Missions International. “Thousands of Haitians wake up each day with access to safe water thanks to last year’s Kansas City Walk for Water and we are confident that the 2013 walk will help us serve even more people.”
Corporate contributors to the 2013 Kansas City Walk for Water include sponsors AES, Austin Nichols, the Kansas City Royals, the Leadership Forum, LMC Truck, Mid-America Pump, Morgan Hunter and Pump and Power Equipment.
Water Awareness Night
Following the Walk for Water, all participants will receive a voucher to watch the Royals play the Cleveland Indians. In partnership with the Royals, Grundfos will sponsor a Water Awareness Night at the game, bringing thousands of fans’ attention to issues of global water scarcity. The first 10,000 fans will receive a Royals- and Grundfos-branded aluminum water bottle. Fans will also learn conservation tips for water use in the home and outdoors through messages and displays on the stadium’s jumbotron.
“Water scarcity is such a critical issue around the world and even right here at home,” said Dennis Wierzbicki, president of Grundfos USA. “Through our partnership with the Royals, Grundfos strives to take an active role in the community by spreading awareness of the importance of water conservation and efficiency.”
Wierzbicki will throw out the first pitch of the game and Teach will catch for him. In addition, executive assistant Rebecca Terry will perform the national anthem and product specialist Jared Gabel will sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.
“Our collaboration with Grundfos has allowed us to help educate our fan base on the growing concern over water scarcity around the world and what Grundfos is doing to provide a solution,” said Wes Engram, senior director of Corporate Sponsorships and Broadcast Sales. “We are proud of our partnership with Grundfos and the important role it has played in our effort to make Kauffman Stadium environmentally friendly.”
Grundfos’ relationship with the baseball team began in 2012, when the company was named the “Official Pump and Pump Systems Provider of the Kansas City Royals.” Grundfos supplied the team’s stadium with 18 state-of-the-art pumps that together will save the Royals hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs throughout their lifetime.
This year, as the Royals celebrate their 40th anniversary at Kauffman Stadium, Grundfos also commemorates its own major milestone – 40 years of operations in the U.S. The company plans to continue expanding its regional expertise, as well as community investment projects such as its partnership with the Royals.
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