By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Foothills Focus Executive Editor Hope 4 Kids International’s Water 4 Kids International and the Anthem Rotary Club raised more than $12,000 for the impoverished Ariet Village, in remote Uganda, Africa, at the Walk 4 Water Anthem Fundraiser on Nov. 12. Anthem Rotary Club, a major sponsor of the event, supported the fundraising effort with a $5,000 donation. That Saturday, 130 Walk 4 Water Anthem participants walked 2 miles around Anthem Community Park, the average one-way distance the women and children of Ariet Village walk to seek out water for their families’ survival. The village’s current water source is a swamp that is shared with local wildlife and completely evaporates during the dry season, leaving behind nothing but cracked earth and dust. All proceeds raised by Walk 4 Water Anthem will support the drilling of a deep-water well in Ariet Village, which will provide safe, clean water from deep aquifers to Ariet and the surrounding villages, year-round. With proper installation these wells can last between 30 to 50 years with little to no maintenance. In addition to drilling deep water wells, Water 4 Kids International also provides these communities with hygiene and sanitation education, as well as operation and maintenance training. Access to clean, drinkable water has an immediate impact on the health of these communities and prevents transmission of common diseases, like cholera and diarrhea. “I think Arizonans think about the value of water on a daily basis,” said Dave Murphy of Anthem Rotary Club, which is partnering with Water 4 Kids International to promote and produce the event. “We think of it as a precious resource for our future. But many people have been conditioned to take it for granted and expect it will always be there. And there are more than a billion people in the world who struggle every day to find the life-saving water they need. “This is something we take for granted as Americans. Arizonans and Americans would hope that we never face that kind of future, but it’s important to recognize that people all over the world face these types of challenges every day.” Water 4 Kids International is still accepting donations. Those who wish to contribute to the drilling of Ariet’s deep-water well can give here: w4ki.org/w4wanthem | 