What is DfaD, and how does it work?
Dollar for a Drink is an official 501-(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fresh water to thousands of needy individuals in Africa (see the sidebar to read about which countries). We partner with Baptist Global Response, a humanitarian relief organization similar to World Vision and Samaritan's Purse, to install the wells.
The concept behind Dollar for a Drink is really very simple: Maximize the number of people who give $1. It's so simple, anyone can join in, and it's simple for a reason: we want to get as many schools and youth groups involved in the project as we can, and this "$1 mindset" works great with large groups. However, don't think it's so simple that your dollar won't make a difference! Every single dollar counts; a single drop of water in a bucket won't make that much of a difference, but what if there were thousands of drops in the bucket? You'd have a bucketfull!
For fund-raising, Dollar for a Drink utilizes the services of Network for Good, an online fund-raising organization for non-profits. 100% of donations are spent towards the building of wells in Sudan. Please note that this 100% denotes the donation amount after a donation transaction fee which is charged by Network for Good for the use of their services; the transaction fee is 3%. In other words, if you give $1.00, then .97 cents will go to the building of a well. However, there is an option on the donation page to give an extra 3% to cover the transaction fee so that an entire dollar goes to the building of a well.
Who runs the organization?
The Dollar for a Drink Project started out as a scary big idea for a certain 16 year-old back in the beginning of the summer of 2008. Since then, it has grown into more than that teen could ever imagine. Joshua Guthrie, 18 years old, is the Director of the Dollar for a Drink organization.
A resident of Milan, Tennessee, Joshua is a Senior in high-school and a home-schooler. Upon his graduation he plans to attend Union University and is contemplating a major in Engineering or Christian Studies. His hobbies include reading good books (either Theological or Fiction), and playing video games. Oh, and running non-profits too. He has also visited the country of Sudan and gotten a chance to see the problem DfaD is addressing first hand.
Meet the Board!
These following individuals have taken a distinct interest in the DfaD organization and are invovled in all important decision making processes. Below are the profiles, bios, and credentials of the six men on the Board:
Dr. Howard Newell — PhD Economics
Dr. Newell has been a professor at Union University, of Jackson Tennessee, for 28+ years with 13 years of full-time college teaching at two other schools prior to Union. He has a PhD in economics form Indiana University, Bloomington. Currently, his teaching and writing is focused on microeconomics and personal financial management.
Married to his wife Debbie for 37 years, they are blessed to have two married children with three wonderful grandchilden. The two of them have a non-profit business which provides a variety of financial services to a wide variety of people including Union students and persons in the West Tennessee area who are experiencing financial challenges.
Larry Butler
Larry Butler has worked for 20 years as Controller for Industrial Companies and 15 years as Co-Owner and President of business he began in 1995. He majored in Business Administration during college, and serves as an Elder and Small Group Leader at Northbrook Church in Three Way, TN.
Scott Lancaster — Videographer
Scott Lancaster has worked in the video production industry for over 15 years and currently serves as Multimedia Producer for Union University. He graduated from Union in 1994 with degrees in Christian Studies and Broadcast Communications. Married to Frances, his wife of 13 years, they are blessed with two children and are active members of Northbrook Church near Jackson, TN.
Patrick N. Andre — M.D., Family Physician
Dr. Andre has been a family physician in Milan, TN over the past seven years at Milan Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the University of TN Health Science Center in Memphis, TN in 2000. In 2003, he graduated from the Family Medicine residency at the University of Jackson TN, serving as Chief Resident during his last year in the program. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Currently living in Humboldt, TN with his wife of 15 years and three lovely children, Dr. Andre has also been a member of Northbrook Church for the past 10 years where he serves as a small group’s leader and deacon.
● Dr. George Guthrie
● Dr. C. Ben Mitchel