In these uncertain times, in many ways, just sticking together, and giving back, no matter how small, can make the biggest difference. Wine to Water has historically been an organization that is committed to supporting life and dignity for all through the power of clean water. At this time, the organization is moving swiftly to flatten the COVID-19 curve through strategic initiatives in the Dominican Republic, Colombia, East Africa, Nepal, and the US. In developing nations, people are even more vulnerable to a pandemic without access to clean water, hand washing, or hygiene facilities. Wine to Water’s response to these challenges has been to provide, among many other things, care boxes that include hygiene education, supplies, and food.In North Carolina, US volunteers are packaging Care Boxes with high-quality food, toilet paper, and soap for individuals and families from the local hospitality industry who lost their jobs. Rizing’s Consumer Industries team has partnered with Wine to Water to support this program. Our goal is to provide 50 boxes to fight food insecurity in Raleigh.
Read more about Rizing’s involvement with Wine to Water in this personal message from Rizing’s President of Consumer Industries, Steve Hatcher.
A Message from Steve Hatcher, President of Rizing’s Consumer Industries
2020 marks Rizing’s third year to come together in our support of Wine to Water. Their vision, “to transform the lives of people through the power of clean water”, has been a simple and clear purpose that our entire team has been able to unite around.
My involvement with Wine to Water began over 8 years ago when I came across Doc’s CNN Hero Video. After watching the video, I decided to give a small support amount and order his book. I consumed the book in two days (and I am not a fast reader). It was my first introduction into the worldwide water crisis. His personal story was captivating, a bartender moved by awareness of a need set out to raise money to give to that need, himself becoming the hands and feet serving in the crisis. I began personally supporting Wine to Water through the TAP, the monthly sponsor program and giving additional amounts as I could.
During the planning of our 2018 Consumer Industries (CI) Annual Meeting, our culture team wanted to include a team-building event that also was an opportunity to “give back”. I shared my own experience supporting Wine to Water and simply suggested they consider this as an option. After evaluating several “give back” opportunities, the Rizing culture team decided to include a Wine to Water filter-build event at the meeting. That year David Cuthbert, CEO of WTW, came out to speak to us and lead the filter-build event. The positive feedback from the CI team was overwhelming.
Our involvement grew in 2019, with several of our team members personally sponsoring the organization and participating in service trips. Rizing employees participated in a filter-build during the annual employee meetings for both our Consumer Industries and Enterprise Asset Management’s annual meeting. Our teams also organized fundraising events at several project locations connecting with the local WTW chapters in major cities. In October, I was honored to participate along with several key corporate sponsors in a vision trip to Nepal to see the progress of the fieldwork and the impact on the communities. More to come on details of my trip later this month.
COVID-19 has brought unexpected challenges to our business in 2020, impacting our annual meeting, filter-build opportunities, and limiting our corporate financial support. However, our team still wants to give back! We have an opportunity to continue our partnership with WTW by personally giving to their “box program”. In their hometown of Boone, NC, the WTW staff is providing a free box of quality food and hygiene materials to individuals and families who lost their jobs in the COVID-19 crisis.
I am asking all Rizing team members to join with me in impacting the lives of those in need through WTW during these difficult times.
Remember, the joy of giving far exceeds the pleasure of possessing.
All my best!
Steve