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Water The Planet: Fundraiser


Water The Planet is focused on bringing clean water to communities around the world.

Hello, my name is Lance and I'm an activist/community leader located in Richmond, Virginia. Water The Planet is a community improvement initiative committed to ending America's water crisis. Our mission is to provide clean water to underprivileged communities and keep everyone aware of this ongoing global issue.


I launched the #SaveFlintChallenge in June 2018, and we continue to call on others to start their own GoFundMe to help provide water relief to communities in need. Thanks to amazing people from all over the world, we've raised over $300,000 so far to provide boxed & bottled water -- but we can't stop there. Accept the challenge. Help us Water The Planet.

Related Article: Bottled water dries up in Flint as water crisis fallout continues in new year. read more

Related Article: What It’s Like to Lose Water in Jackson, Mississippi. read more

Related Article: Flint water victims still waiting on claims process; disappointed by mistrial. read more


Rewind

Flint's water crisis began in 2014 when the drinking water source for the city of Flint, Michigan was changed from Lake Huron and the Detroit River to the cheaper Flint River. The decision to switch the city of Flint’s drinking water source to the Flint River was pegged as a cost-cutting maneuver aimed at saving $5M over a two-year period.

This community malpractice resulted in lead contamination in Flint's water, which poisoned tens of thousands of innocent people in this community.

Researchers studying the Flint lead water crisis found a decrease in pregnancies, and an increase in fetal deaths among Flint women. Fertility rates dropped by 12% while fetal deaths rose by 58%. The water change is also responsible for an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the county that has killed 13 people and affected another 77.

On April 6th, 2018, Governor. Rick Snyder announced the end of a free bottled water program in Flint, citing the water quality was acceptable, but that isn't the truth. The residents of Flint STILL struggle with unreliable drinking water. Further investigation reveals the replacement of all the lead pipes necessary to provide clean water to Flint residents is still incomplete in 2023.


Fast Forward

This is where #WaterThePlanet comes in. Our mission is simple, we're fundraising to provide clean drinking water to people in need. Since our launch my campaign has transformed into a relief mission that assists other areas around the world with clean water. Flint still doesn't have clean water.


How the Funds Will Be Used

All funds received will be invested in maintaining our #WaterThePlanet campaign, volunteer expenses, delivery costs, and used to purchase boxed/bottled water. As mentioned in our very first campaign update, our bulk bottled water pallet cost is roughly 278.00 per pallet (54 cases per pallet, 35 bottles per case) including delivery. We've upgraded our water assistance program to provide water filters for long-term solutions. I'm also making donations to various water distribution organizations in the United States, and assisting communities outside of the country.

West Court Street Church of God in Flint, Michigan will be one of several drop off destinations selected. If you are in the Richmond, Virginia area and want to directly donate cases of water please send me a direct message.


Campaign Results

2019 GoFundMe Heroes Award Winner

The #SaveFlintChallenge was honored in San Francisco at the GoFundMe Heroes Celebration, a first-time live event honoring 6 community-nominated GoFundMe Heroes in front of a live audience. Watch the livestream here.






February 22 2021: The #SaveFlintChallenge #WaterThePlanet campaign helped Feeding Texas distribute food and water.

December 25 2019: #RVAFlint #SaveFlintChallenge Christmas Gift & Water Giveaway. 

December 16, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint's Flint Kids Christmas.

September 11, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge 'Flint Story' was recognized by Flint's Mayor Karen Weaver. 

August 31, 2019: 38,800 bottles of water. 339 families served, all distributed in Flint, Michigan. The long line was expected, but we had a great team and helped some great people. Thank you Pastor Rob, Flint, and everyone supporting our #SaveFlintChallenge.

August 14, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint's Clean Water Fund.

March 29, 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint's NYC Shorty Awards campaign.

January-April 2019: The #SaveFlintChallenge helped Flint’s West Court Church distribute water again. Water distributions were held weekly.

December 30, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive.

December 30, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to West Court Street Church of God, and committed to funding their water distribution program for the entire first quarter of 2019.

December 27, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive.

October 23, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated $1,951.48 to assist West Court Street Church of God with their water distribution program for November.





August 18, 2018: 78,500 bottles of water. 489 families served, all distributed in Flint, Michigan. The line was wrapped around the block, but we had a great team and helped some great people. Thank you to everyone supporting our #SaveFlintChallenge.

August 18, 2018: #SaveFlintChallenge Feed The Homeless & Pay It Forward event held in front of My Brother's Keeper homeless shelter in Flint, Michigan.

August 12, 2018: The #SaveFlintChallenge donated to Little Miss Flint & PYB Water Drive.

#WaterThePlanet encourages everyone to extend a helping hand in communities other than their own. Thank you for contributing and sharing our campaign.


Others Making A Difference

Little Miss Flint:
Support Little Miss Flint here: https://t.co/jpKnw4TAgm

Maisie Brown:
Support Maisie here:

West Court Church: 
Support West Court here:


Check out some familiar names who support Water The Planet: Kyrie Irving, DeRay Mckesson, Seth Green, Carl Lewis, Chuck D, Sheryl Underwood, Sara Sidner, Roland Martin, Mira Sorvino, Michigan Senator Erika Geiss, Erin Brockovich, Tichina Arnold, Chris Long, Reality Winner, Rosie O'Donnell, Debra Messing, Rosario Dawson, Geneva Carr, Rosanna Arquette, Chef José Andrés, Morgan Fairchild, Nancy Sinatra, Brie Larson, Sebastian Roché, Ben Stiller, Kerry Washington, Vivica A. Fox, Frances Fisher, Lou Diamond Phillips, Sandra Bernhard, DL Hughley, Alyssa Milano, Chelsea Clinton, Paris Jackson, Chelsea Handler, David Arquette, Deepak Chopra.

News/Interview Links

Related Article: GoFundMe Honors Good Samaritans at First Heroes Celebration: 'Amazing Things Are Happening.' https://t.co/Eaf568fopL


Related Article: How a quote from ‘Black Panther’ inspired this Richmond ‘hero’ to take action. https://wtvr.com/2019/11/01/lance-cooper-honored-by-gofundme/ 


Related Article: Save Flint Challenge Donations help Flint’s West Court Church distribute water again. https://t.co/7LWgs8yZro


Related Article: Flint Clean Water GoFundMe Campaigns Get Border Wall Boost. https://t.co/XdKEroVH6F


"It takes a village to build a better world."


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Donations 

  • Kim Edwards
    • $20 
    • 4 d
  • Anonymous
    • $25 
    • 5 d
  • Kyrie Irving
    • $24,000 
    • 6 d
  • Hamid Haq
    • $300 
    • 7 d
  • Anonymous
    • $25 
    • 9 d
Donate

Organiser

Lance Cooper
Organiser
Richmond, VA

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