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The Winter Waterland Gala is Well Aware's largest event of the year, bringing together our dedicated supporters from Austin and beyond for a night of clean water impact and connection. You will enjoy:
Seated three-course dinner
Cocktails & tableside wine service
Tunes from a top Austin DJ
Special guests
Exciting live and silent auctions
Our 5th Annual Impact Awards
Inspiring impact stories from the field
... and more!
We hope you will join us for this celebratory night recognizing the importance of clean water and how you are making a difference.
BUY YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
From Amy Poehler to Dr. Auma Obama, we've had the incredible honor of recognizing some inspiring individuals through the Well Aware Impact Awards -- presented annually at the gala. This year, we're excited to recognize four outstanding people who are truly changing the world for the better.
TURK AND CHRISTY PIPKIN | 2022 Global Impact Award
Presented by:
Turk and Christy Pipkin are the co-founders of The Nobelity Project, a global nonprofit working to bridge gaps in education in Kenya, Latin America, and at home in Texas. They have built preschools, primary and secondary classrooms, libraries, kitchens, and more at 50+ rural Kenyan school locations.
HETAL GANATRA | 2022 Geoffrey S. Ryder Ambassador of the Year
Hetal was born and raised in Kenya. She has a fondness and love for the wildlife and people of Kenya, leading her to work for Ol Pejeta Conservancy and help lead our partnership on clean water projects near the conservancy. She is determined to help make a difference that would give people access to basic rights and opportunities to protect the natural world.
Presented by:
IAN MUIRURI | 2022 Geoffrey S. Ryder Ambassador of the Year
Ian is in charge of community development projects at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, supporting community members living around the conservancy. Ian collaborates with community leaders to identify new potential Well Aware water projects, assess water needs, mobilize community support, and manage relationships with the local government.
MARY ELIZABETH ELLIS | 2022 Shower Striker of the Year
Mary Elizabeth Ellis is a Hollywood actress and producer, known for her roles as "Lisa" on the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet and “The Waitress” on FX’s hit show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This year, she raised an incredible $16,500 for Well Aware’s clean water projects.
BUY TICKETS & CELEBRATE THEM AT THE GALA!
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REGISTERING YOUR GUESTS
If you purchased a table or multiple tickets, make sure to enter your guests' names and contact information so they can receive their own unique link to bid and donate. To do this, click on the link in your confirmation email, and under "Details" click on "Edit Guest Information" and enter their names.
TRANSPORTATION & PARKING
Parking will be very limited. We highly suggest that you utilize a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft.
If you must drive, valet parking at the Van Zandt is extremely limited and only available on a first-come, first-served, at a rate of $30. You can also look for street parking or garages at nearby hotels. We recommend leaving plenty of time to arrive if you will be looking for parking.
BIDDING ON THE AUCTIONS
Bidding for the silent auction will be done entirely online, and will be available closer to the event. If you attend the gala in person, you’ll be able to see the different packages set up at Hotel Van Zandt and bid via your mobile device. Previews for the live auction packages will be available online, too, ahead of the event and will be available for bidding during the live program.
DONATING
You can donate online ahead of the event, or participate in the live "Fund A Clean Water Need" portion of the event. Every $15 you give will provide lasting clean water to 1 person. You can see all our impact levels here or select your own donation amount.
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Need support? Email info@wellawareworld.org for assistance.
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We are thrilled to announce that we will be having local Austinites DJ Mixer Rogers as our DJ and singer-songwriter Erin Ivey as our Emcee at the Winter Waterland Gala on December 2nd! These two make a dynamic duo.
MIXER ROGERS | DJ
Cam Rogers, aka Mixer Rogers, moved to Austin to play the drums in 1995 and has been in love with the music scene ever since. He was lucky enough to play the first 2 Austin City Limits Music Festivals in ’02 & ’03 with his band, SpaceTruck. (Fun fact: SpaceTruck struck the first note of the first ACL Fest ever.) He still plays the drums but started DJing professionally back in 2012. In 2020, Mixer Rogers was nominated in the Best DJ category of the Austin Music Awards. We can't wait to hear his tunes at the gala!
ERIN IVEY | EMCEE
Austin-based troubadour Erin Ivey is "a songwriter of the first order" (Daily News) with a "rare and deeply affecting voice" (KUTX). Texas Music Magazine recently named her breakout LP Broken Gold one of 20 "albums that defined Texas music over the past 2 decades." Erin has proudly served on the Well Aware Advisory Council and has been a Village member since 2016. She also serves on the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) Texas Chapter Board of Governors, where she co-chairs the Education Committee. She volunteers her time as a creativity and music business mentor at Song Rise Arts and GRAMMY U. We're excited to have her as our Master of Ceremonies at the gala.
300,000 Lives Changed...and Counting
Over the last 13 years, with your support, we’ve been able to transform the lives of more than 300,000 people across 100+ water projects in East Africa. All while maintaining a 100% project success rate, compared with the industry average of 40%.
But there are still many more communities and people in need of clean water.
With your help, we will raise $300,000 through the gala -- enough to scale our water projects in 2023 and reach 20,000 more people with lasting clean water.
Together, we can ensure our partner communities in East Africa can not only survive but THRIVE!
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Showcase your brand and join the impact. We have several sponsorship packages to choose from.
WATER IS LIFE | PRESENTING SPONSOR
WATER IS HEALTH | SUPPORTING SPONSORS
WATER IS EDUCATION SPONSORS
WATER IS EQUALITY SPONSORS
Download the full details here & become a sponsor today!
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Well Aware is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Austin, Texas. We fund and implement sustainable clean water systems to drive economic development and empower communities in East Africa. To date, we have transformed more than 300,000+ lives through clean water.
Nearly 60% of water projects in Africa fail. Ours don't. With our technical expertise and community-driven approach, we maintain a 100% success rate - redefining the water aid industry and setting a new standard for efficiency and sustainability. Learn more on our website: wellawareworld.org.
