The Water Well Trust received a $250,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida through the Delores Barr Weaver Family Endowment Fund 1.
This is the second grant the WWT has received from the Delores Barr Weaver Family Endowment Fund 1, according to the press release. The WWT was initially approached by the Foundation because the Delores Barr Weaver Family Endowment Fund 1 wished to pursue safe drinking water projects in the U.S. The Weaver family believes everyone should have safe drinking water, and supports international water projects as well.
In 2020, the Fund provided a $50,000 grant to the Trust that was used to provide six families with water wells in five states, reported the press release. The first family to receive assistance was the Suazo family from Middletown, New York. This couple has four children in the home and Mrs. Suazo is living with multiple sclerosis. The family had a well that one contractor termed a "swamp well," with water unfit for consumption. The Suazo project was successfully completed in June 2020.
Under the latest grant, the Trust will be able to drill 21 wells in 2021, with grant monies going toward needy families on the WWT wait list, according to the press release. The Fund has stipulated that the funds be used as grant money as opposed to loans.
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is a tax-exempt public charity. Created by generous individuals, families, businesses and organizations, each of their more than 600 funds helps build stronger communities. Created in 1964, the Foundation has assets of $483 million and has made approximately $550 million in grants since inception.
The Water Well Trust maintains a wait list of American households requesting funding for the drilling of new wells or rehabilitation of non-functioning wells in high-need, low-resource rural areas. Prospective applicants can download the application form and instruction letter from the Water Well Trust website.
For more information, visit waterwelltrust.org.
