Water for People

Water For People is an international development organization of dedicated people who recognize as a basic human right and primary building block of life--an essential social, economic and environmental commodity. We are motivated by the strong connection between water deprivation and poverty. Our vision is a world where all people have access to safe drinking water and sanitation;a world where no one suffers or dies from a water- or sanitation-related disease.

Water For People helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities and health and hygiene education programs.

Water For People maintains a full-time staff in each of the countires in which we work to manage and facilitiate our projects. We work closely with community members, local government and other trusted nongovernmental organizations to ensure that the work we do is sustainable and appropriate for the community. We enlist community members to do much of the labor involved so that they take ownership which ensures long-term success.

Drinking Water Resources: We develop safe drinking water resources using simple technologies and local materials, such as gravity-fed systems, hand-dug wells, source protection and treatment systems.

Improved Sanitation: We work with communities to develop improved sanitation systems to adequately dispose of human waste. Technologies might include dry latrines and flush systems.

Health and Hygiene Education: We work with local communities to train people about safe health and hygiene education practices, such as handwashing, bathing, and safe human waste disposal. These practices, in combination with safe water and improved sanitation facilities, promote good health and prevent illness.

Since 1991, Water For People has supported more than 800 water and sanitation projects in 40 countries.

In 2006, we helped provide safe water resources and/or improved sanitation benefiting more than 98,000 people.

Water For People supports local initiatives in water supply, sanitation, and health/hygiene education. Our strategy is to enhance local capacity so that the benefits are sustained over time. Solutions need to be local and appropriate, so that the benefits of improved services lead to meaningful and lasting improvements in areas of health and economics.

Colleen Stiles’ leadership qualities and commitment to philanthropy were recognized early in her career. She was selected by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as a Kellogg National Leadership Fellow (Class IX).

In recognition of her accomplishments in leadership and communication, Ms. Stiles has been a guest lecturer/faculty speaker for College of St. Benedict, St. Cloud State University, and Wake Forest University. An informed and inspiring communicator, she has also served on the faculty of the National Academy of Volunteerism, the National Minority Leadership Program, and the Gateman Institute for Small Business.

Ms. Stiles began her professional career as Director of Marketing, then Executive Director of the St. Cloud Area United Way.

Her track record in philanthropy and development continued when she assumed the position of Vice President, Institutional Advancement for the College of St. Benedict. As senior advisor to the college president, she was responsible for alumni relations, fundraising and development, communications, and public relations.

As President and CEO of Pikes Peak Area United Way, Ms. Stiles stepped into the role of change agent to re-establish donor and community credibility.

In 1998, Ms. Stiles merged her passion for philanthropy, understanding of leadership, and strategic approach to business development by founding Greatness in Giving, Inc., which provides philanthropic and strategic business services to foundations, corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and private entities.

Ms. Stiles holds an MA in Communications, magna cum laude, from Wake Forest University. She earned her BA in Communications and Sociology, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota.

President
Frederick H. Elwell
CDM

Vice President
Elisa M. Speranza
CH2M HILL

Treasurer
H.J. (Chips) Barry, III
Denver Water

Edmund G. Archuleta
El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board

Bevin Beaudet
Palm Beach County Water Utilities

Dr. Paul T. Bowen
The Coca-Cola Company

Penny Davey
Environmental Science & Engineering Magazine

Charles C. DiLaura
Neptune Technology Group Inc.

Noel Grant
South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority

Cynthia H. Hartley
MWH

Julie A. Hellmann
HDR Engineering Inc. of the Carolinas

Thomas W. Hodson
The Ford Meter Box Company, Inc.

Robert J. Hunter
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management

Lucinda L. Kindred
Vanguard Media Group

Richard D. Kuchenrither
Black & Veatch

Daniel S. Lee
Paramount Farms, Inc.

Patrick McCann
Weston Solutions, Inc.

Raymond C. Miller, P.E.

Tony Petrucci, P.Eng.
CH2M HILL

Joe C. Stowe, Jr.
CH2M HILL

Bjorn L. von Euler
ITT

Paul W. Ware
Penn Fuel Gas, Inc.

Floyd E. Wicks
American States Water Company

Ellen Wolf
American Water

Karen S. Zack
Kinetico Inc.

Colleen Stiles
Water For People

Nicaragua

6666 W QUINCY AVE
DENVER, CO 80235-3098
Phone: (303) 734-3490
www.waterforpeople.org
EIN: 84-1166148