At the Clinton Global Initiative on Sept. 20, the Case Foundation and Mrs. Laura Bush announced a partnership to bring clean water to up to 10 million people throughout sub-Saharan Africa by 2010.  Joining the Case Foundation in the partnership are the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and The MCJ Foundation.  The combined $16.4 million commitment launched a cross-sector initiative to install 4,000 PlayPump^TM water systems across Africa.

Read Mrs. Bush's remarks or watch the webcast from the Clinton Global Initiative.

A PlayPump^TM water system is a children's merry-go-round attached to a water pump that provides easy access to clean drinking water for schools and communities in Africa.  This innovative design operates like a windmill turned on its side.  As children play and the merry-go-round turns, the water is pumped into an above-ground storage tank and later accessed by means of a simple tap.  Billboards attached to the storage tank provide public service and promotional messaging, and provide revenue to help cover the cost of maintenance for 10 years.

"Limited access to clean drinking water has a profound impact on the quality of life of children and families in sub-Saharan Africa," said Jean Case, CEO of the Case Foundation.  "As Americans, we tend to take clean drinking water for granted, but in Africa it can be the difference between basic health and disease, between stability and poverty, and between life and death.  Providing a clean water solution to an African community can open the doors of opportunity in so many areas -- health, education, gender equality and economic development."

Discussing the power of collaboration, Case said, "Some global challenges are just too big for any one sector, government, or organization to tackle alone.  The Case Foundation is proud to be part of a partnership that includes governments, businesses, and philanthropic organizations determined to bring clean water to millions of people.  We are hopeful that as more people learn about the water crisis and the solution of the PlayPump^TM water system, they will join us in taking this idea to scale."

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