Operation Water

Last week we hosted our 6th Operation Water Classic at the beautiful Scarsdale Golf Club in Hartsdale, NY. Although not as sunny our previous golf outings, we were thrilled to avoid getting rained out (again!), and had a splendid time on the links with 60 golfers. While on the course, former Catalyst Club President and Operation Water Advisor, Barry Schiffman, managed the "Closest to the Hole" competition with the help of Michael Likogiannis, and talked to each team about our organization; we routinely manage one hole for this fun and informative fundraising competition to connect with each team prior to the dinner.  After golfing, everyone changed and some new guests arrived for cocktails where they bid on some sports memorabilia offered on silent auction, followed by the dinner segment of the event. During dinner, former Catalyst Club President and Operation Water board member, Mian Azmy, shared organizational updates with our dinner guests, and showed a 4 minute video we produced earlier this year for World Water Day; the video highlights the life of Operation Water ambassador Kamanzi Carolyne, and the adversities she had to overcome which were created by a lack of sustainable access to clean water. After the video, Michael Connallon Jr. talked about the Catalyst Club, what it's like to be a Catalyst, and encouraged those who wish to "do more" to reach out to discuss the opportunity with us. It was another highly successful golf outing and we give special thanks to our golf committee members for their leadership and support - Mian Azmy, Michael Connallon Jr., Maria Aldous, Chris McTammany, and Kristina Ennis. If you or your organization would like to learn more about becoming a sponsor for our 7th golf event in May next year, please contact anyone from our golf committee - we look forward to hearing from you!

Last week was Climate Week in NYC, and we were thrilled to co-host a panel discussion with Green Empowerment and African Leadership Academy after the premiere of the film "Force of Water", a documentary produced by Nathan Works in collaboration with Green Empowerment. To kick things off after happy hour, Hatim Eltayeb delivered welcoming yet cautionary remarks, highlighting that sustainable access to clean water has been on the decline across Africa, and emphasized the importance to address this humanitarian crisis in order to achieve meaningful and sustainable social development across the continent. After the remarks, we watched "The Force of Water", which followed the development of two water systems in rural, indigenous communities - one in Uganda and another in Ecuador. Both communities had to overcome myriad adversities to successfully deliver their water systems, and their paths to success were enlightening and empathetic journeys for the viewers. After the screening, Andrea Johnson served as an engaging moderator for an insightful panel discussion with Jomo Erick, Michaela Walsh, and Rocio Cavazos, representing AL for Infrastructure, charity: water, and Water.org, respectively. After a brief Q&A after the panel discussion, Operation Water Founders Marco Di Girolamo, and Ryan Phillips-Page reflected on the events of the evening in their closing remarks, and thanked everyone for their support, while encouraging everyone to push themselves to do more to support those less fortunate. It was a wonderful evening of connection and we greatly enjoyed mingling with our amazing guests. Thank you to Green Empowerment for inviting us to be part of this impactful Climate Week NYC event!

Final Reminder: Climate Week NYC Panel Discussion - Tuesday, September 24th On Tuesday, we will be co-hosting our illuminating panel discussion which will shed light on the myriad challenges faced by vulnerable communities to develop their own sustainable access to clean water and electricity. We look forward to a stimulating conversation, and mingling with our guests during happy hour - so be sure to come early! The event is free to attend, spaces are limited, and we expect to reach capacity; we encourage you to request an invitation to register now: Date: Tuesday, Sept 24th Time: Happy Hour starts at 4:30pm Film Premiere: 5:45pm Panel Discussion: 6:45pm Venue: Village East by Angelika Location: 12th St / 2nd Ave, NYC Registration Link - https://lnkd.in/eutwK8ir We hope to see you on Tuesday! Speakers: Hatim Eltayeb, Andrea Johnson, Rocio Cavazos, Jomo Erick, Michaela Walsh, Marco Di Girolamo, Yogesh Mago, Ryan Phillips-Page Co-Hosts: Green Empowerment, African Leadership Academy, Operation Water Presenting Partner: Public Interest Registry Community Partners: The Water Project, Unlocking Communities, Environmental Defense Fund, Agendi, Christodora: Nature, Learning, Leadership, Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), and The Water Trust

To conclude the panel discussion on Tuesday, Sept 24th at Village East by Angelika, Operation Water Founders Yogesh Mago, Ryan Phillips-Page and Marco Di Girolamo will deliver the closing remarks. Their remarks will reflect upon Green Empowerment’s “Force of Water” documentary, the panel discussion that will be moderated by Andrea Johnson with panellists Rocio Cavazos, Jomo Erick, and Michaela Walsh, and the current state of sustainable access to clean water – amidst the backdrop of Climate Week NYC. The event is free to attend, spaces are limited, and we expect to reach capacity; we strongly encourage you to request an invitation to register today - https://lnkd.in/eutwK8ir Date: Tuesday, Sept 24th Time: Happy Hour starts at 4:30pm Film Premiere: 5:45pm Venue: Village East by Angelika Location: 12th St / 2nd Ave, NYC Registration Link - https://lnkd.in/eutwK8ir We hope to see you on Tuesday! African Leadership Academy, Africa Career Networks

Meet Marco Di Girolamo, a featured speaker at our Force of Water premiere at NYC Climate Week (Climate Group)! Marco is Co-Founder and Board Member of Operation Water, and Founder and Chair of Terra Firma (tf.) Canada, which has partnered with Operation Water to build water infrastructure projects in developing communities in emerging economies. He is also a Co-Founder and Board member of the Club of Florence, which promotes actionable policy for the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. You don't want to miss it! 📅 Tuesday, September 24th 🕔 4:30 PM Happy Hour | 5:45 PM Film and Panel 📍 Village East by Angelika, New York, NY Request an invitation today: https://lnkd.in/gyFUtDzU Presenting Partner: Public Interest Registry Community Partners: The Water Project, Unlocking Communities, Environmental Defense Fund, Agendi, Christodora: Nature, Learning, Leadership, Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), and The Water Trust Co-hosted by African Leadership Academy and Operation Water

Meet Ryan Phillips-Page, who will be a featured speaker at our Force of Water premiere at NYC Climate Week (Climate Group)! Ryan is Founder and CEO of Operation Water, and Co-Founder and Board Member of Terra Firma (tf.) Canada Terra Firma, a Canadian charity focused on water infrastructure in developing countries. He also serves on the board of the Club of Florence, advocating for the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Additionally, Ryan advises the Latin American Leadership Academy, fostering sustainable economic development and democratic governance, and African Lead African Leadership for Infrastructure, promoting green technology and social inclusivity in Africa's infrastructure. You don't want to miss it! 📅 Tuesday, September 24th 🕔 4:30 PM Happy Hour | 5:45 PM Film and Panel 📍Village East by Angelika, New York, NY Request an invitation today: https://lnkd.in/gyFUtDzU Presenting Partner: Public Interest Registry Community Partners: The Water Project, Unlocking Communities, Environmental Defense Fund, Agendi, Christodora: Nature, Learning, Leadership, Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), and The Water Trust Co-hosted by African Leadership Academy and Operation Water

We’re less than one week away from co-hosting our panel discussion after the “Force of Water” premiere! We hope you can join us on Tuesday, Sept 24th at the Village East by Angelika theatre for an engaging and inspirational event. The event is free to attend, and starts with a Happy Hour at 4:30pm, providing guests and speakers an opportunity to mingle before screening the Green Empowerment documentary at 5:45pm; the panel discussion will start promptly after the film. Spaces are limited, so request your invitation to register today - https://lnkd.in/eutwK8ir. As we build up to this special Climate Week NYC event, we’d like to introduce the panellists: Rocio Cavazos - Regional Director for Latin America at Water.org Rocio is a finance and impact investing professional with more than 20 years of experience at organizations such as Deutsche Bank, JPMorganChase, Promujer and Women's World Banking. She has vast experience in microfinance and social enterprises, spanning more than 30 countries, and is also Founder and President of the Asociación de Emprendedores Veganos de México, and Founder of the Ananda Group - an impact investing firm which supports entrepreneurs who empower consumers to adopt an ethical, healthy, environmentally conscious, and compassionate lifestyle, without the use of animals. As the Regional Director of Water.org, Rocio leads the development and execution of the organization's strategy and impact in Latin America, with a focus on scaling business partnerships that increase access to financing for water and sanitation in the region. Jomo Erick – Program Manager for the Infrastructure & Technology Network at African Leadership Academy Jomo is an industry leader in the African infrastructure development ecosystem with a focus on cultivating partnerships, driving innovation, and empowering the youth to transform Africa.  As Program Manager for the Infrastructure & Technology network at African Leadership Academy, Jomo works with young people across the continent to create innovative and technology-driven solutions that enable sustainable and inclusive growth through the development of climate resilient infrastructure. Michaela Walsh – Associate Director of Programs at charity: water Michaela has worked for charity: water for more than a decade, supporting their local partners to develop and manage water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs in rural communities across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. As Associate Director of Programs, Michaela oversees a portfolio of more than $70M in funded WASH projects across 12 countries in West and Southern Africa.

In exactly one week we will be co-hosting our panel discussion in NYC with Green Empowerment and African Leadership Academy! After the premiere of their documentary “Force of Water”, Green Empowerment Executive Director, Andrea Johnson, will expertly moderate a panel discussion that will further illuminate the importance of local community engagement to deliver sustainable water and power systems in vulnerable communities. “Force of Water” is a one-hour documentary that follows two communities - one in Ecuador and one in Uganda - as they embark on the monumental task of constructing their own water systems. Through the eyes of community members and local program staff, we follow a journey of dedication, suspense, and gain critical insights from Indigenous and last mile communities confronting the global water crisis. As Executive Director at Green Empowerment, Andrea leads the organization's efforts to provide renewable energy and clean water to rural communities globally. She earned her BS in Environmental Science from Duke University and served as a research fellow at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Following her time in Ecuador with the Peace Corps, Andrea transitioned to Oregon and worked in the energy sector before joining Green Empowerment in 2016. Green Empowerment works with in-country partner organizations to build clean water and renewable energy infrastructure with Indigenous and rural communities across the globe. They envision an equitable and sustainable world where everyone has clean water, renewable energy, and a healthy environment in which to grow and thrive. These foundational resources bring immediate health benefits, save families (especially women and children) countless hours of time previously spent on menial tasks such as hauling water, and provide a springboard for economic opportunity. Many of the Indigenous and rural communities that they work with are located in the most biodiverse regions on the planet; they are both highly vulnerable to and crucial partners in combating climate change. By partnering with locals, they can get ahead of further climate change consequences. Green Empowerment collaborates with in-country organizations who know the local culture, speak the local language, and have a long-term commitment to the region. They believe that only through working with local leaders and changemakers can real lasting change occur. Event Details: 📅 Tuesday, September 24th 🕔 4:30 PM Happy Hour | 5:45 PM Film and Panel 📍Village East by Angelika, New York, NY Register by requesting an invitation (spaces are limited): https://lnkd.in/eutwK8ir

We are one week away from our dynamic panel discussion in NYC that we are co-hosting with Green Empowerment and African Leadership Academy! To build up to this special event, we will publish a series of posts to introduce the speakers throughout the week. To welcome everyone and set the tone for the event, we have the distinct honor and pleasure of having the brilliant and eloquent, Hatim Eltayeb, deliver the opening remarks. Hatim is the CEO of African Leadership Academy (ALA), where he oversees all elements of the organization. Prior to becoming CEO in 2022, Hatim led the Academy’s Diploma Program as Dean of the Academy, enabling the rich community of faculty and staff to bring the leadership learning program to life. ALA is a pre-eminent educational institution that seeks to transform Africa by identifying, developing, and connecting its future leaders. The Academy was founded on the philosophy that a new generation of ethical, committed leaders is the key to Africa’s development. ALA is the training ground for these future leaders. In Hatim's own words, he is "Sudanese by spirit and nationality; born in Kuwait; reared in Oman; raised in Cairo and flourishing in Johannesburg". He received his undergraduate at Harvard University and his master's degree in Private School Leadership from Columbia University, where he received the NEASC Bradley Award in recognition of his commitment to promoting high quality education for all students. Below are the details for the event: 📅 Tuesday, September 24th 🕔 4:30 PM Happy Hour | 5:45 PM Film and Panel 📍Village East by Angelika, New York, NY Register by requesting an invitation today (spaces are limited): https://lnkd.in/eutwK8ir

We're less than 3 weeks away from our annual Golf Classic! We still have a few spaces and sponsorship opportunities available and invite you to support Operation Water for this wonderful event: Wednesday, Oct. 2nd - 11:00 AM - Registration + Brunch - 12:30 PM - Tee Off - 5:30 PM - Cocktail Reception + Dinner (Open Bar) Venue: Scarsdale Golf Club 1 Club Way, Hartsdale, NY Fees: Foursome - $2500 Single - $670 Dinner Only - $250 Included: 1 Caddy & 2 Carts (Per Foursome) Registration Link - https://lnkd.in/eHazKpsb Contact Mian Azmy or Ryan Phillips-Page to discuss sponsorship opportunities - we look forward to hearing from you!