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Atlanta Car Washes Provide Clean Drinking Water to Millions In Need

Independent Car Wash Operators Team Up With Rotary Clubs to Bring Clean Drinking Water to Communities Worldwide

Wash Away Thirst is a pilot campaign being launched in Atlanta. It will give one day of water to one person for every car that is washed. This will help provide clean drinking water to the nearly 1 billion people who lack access to this most basic of human needs.

ATLANTA–July 2011—Several independent car wash operators in the Atlanta area have joined together to provide clean drinking water to those in need throughout the world.

The campaign, called Wash Away Thirst, anticipates approximately 100 car wash locations to join the cause starting this July with an invitation to all metro area facilities to join the program. The goal is to provide five million days of clean drinking water to people in need.

Wash Away Thirst is a one-for-one-for-one campaign. Every wash gives one day of clean water to one thirsty person. Donations will be made to the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (Wasrag) which focuses on this key area of Rotary International’s humanitarian service. Locals can support this philanthropic endeavor each time they visit one of the participating car washes from now through December 31, 2011.

“Nearly 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water and every day, 5,000 children under the age of five will die as a result. One of our organization’s greatest assets is the ability to raise funds that can translate into operational programs throughout the world, which will ultimately save lives,” said Ellsworth Havens, Wasrag Development Team Leader. “We are excited to have a network of community-based businesses to help educate Americans about the critical need for clean water.”

“As an industry, we are very focused on water-related issues and are on the forefront of water conservation practices such as recycling,” said Gary Dennis, president of the Georgia Car Wash Association. “This is an opportunity for independent car wash operators to educate our customers of this critical issue and join together to bring clean drinking water to developing countries. There is the potential for this campaign to have a huge impact globally.”

Organizers hope this pilot program in metro Atlanta will expand to other car washes in other markets. Interest has already been generated from operators in Texas and Connecticut who wish to participate in the program.

“We are thrilled to unite car washes throughout the Atlanta area and partner with Wasrag to support clean water efforts around the world,” said Jim Dudley, founder of Wash Away Thirst.

“Through this campaign, we will provide Atlantans with the opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives by doing something as simple as washing their car.”

For more information on the Wash Away Thirst campaign, visit http://www.washawaythirst.org.