CASADY4H2OPE

It's Official

2010-05-27T14:09:00.006-05:00

On Monday, Mr. Bottomly received this email from Josh Smith at charity:water headquarters:

"Congratulations! I’ve just finished uploading the final checks onto your campaign page. It is so amazing to know that you guys hit $20k!

Again, a warm-hearted thank you from everyone for everything you’ve done. You guys rock!!"

It's hard to imagine what this will mean for 1,000 African students.

Obviously we will never be able to feel the full benevolent force of impact,

nor see the full arc and trajectory of transformation.

But it's spine tingling already to think what it will be like when the drilling ends and crystalline clear water begins to gush out of a shiny new water valve, and kids squeal and scramble to dip their hands in and taste a mouthful of water of cool, clean, fresh, teeth chattering good water.

About a year from now, charity: water promises to send us pictures and video to bear witness of the first act of a new creation, loaded with shimmering potentialities for an entire student community.

Perhaps this video taken not too long ago to celebrate a newly built well in Haiti can help us imagine the day that is coming soon, and dream of the day when the world is put back to rights, and the glory of God covers the earth as the water covers the sea (Isa. 11:9).

Dinner Anyone?

2010-04-25T18:32:00.001-05:00

Hey Everybody,

I received this information last night from Rosie Atkinson regarding CASADY 4H2OPE. As you are aware Casady students have been working very hard the past few weeks to raise $20,000 to build a well for a school of 1000 students in Africa. They are partnering with Charity:Water and are very close to their goal. Rosie and her father Randy Atkinson have worked to arrange this great way to donate. All you have to do is eat out at one of these restaurants tomorrow, April 26th, or eat at Rococo today. These restaurants have generously agreed to donate 10% of proceeds to Casady 4H2ope!

Please pass this opportunity on to anyone you think would be interested and let's help the students reach their goal of helping students in Africa.

Carla Britt

Come eat Sunday brunch and dinner at Rococo!

10% of everything they make goes to CASADY4H2OPE.

Also, on Monday the following restaurants are donating 10% of their proceeds from lunch and dinner:

Sushi Neko
Musashi's
The Coach House
The Lobby Bar
Will's Coffee
VZD's
Cheever's
RePUBlic Gastropub (Classen Curve)
Iron Starr
Market C
RedPrime Steakhouse
Big Truck Tacos
Coolgreens

With all of the Western Concept restaurants (Sushi Neko, Musashi's, The Coach House, The Lobby Bar, Will's Coffee), each guest will be handed a ticket to choose from a variety of local charities they can make a donation to. Be sure to check the Casady charity: water box. The other restaurants are just taking 10% and making a straight donation

$20 is giving up 5 Starbucks drinks for 5 students to have access to clean water for 5 years

2010-04-20T10:32:00.002-05:00

Senior Tripp Lopez produced this video for "Water Week".

It's quite amazing.

If you have not donated, here is your chance.

$20. That's like 5 Starbucks drinks so that 5 African students

can have 5 years worth of clean drinking water.

Benefit Concert featuring Stephen Speaks

2010-04-16T14:10:00.003-05:00

So here is a little preview of feature musician, Stephen Speaks.

Doors open in the South Gym at 5:30 pm. Admission $10. All proceeds go to our water project.

Can't wait to see everyone there to help kick off our "Water Week".

Water Week Schedule

2010-04-07T15:00:00.005-05:00

Water Week 2010 April 18 – April 24 National Volunteer Week
Sunday, April 182:00 – 4:00 pm - 3 on 3 basketball tournament (South Gym)
6:00pm - Concert featuring Maggie McClure and Stephen Speaks

Monday, April 19Upper Division Out of Uniform - Pajama Day

Tuesday, April 20
Upper Division Out of Uniform - Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings
4:00pm – 8:00pm - Casady STUCO night at Sonic

Wednesday, April 21
7:15am – 8:25am - Pancake Breakfast
12:00 – 12:43 - Cum Laude Ceremony

Thursday, April 22
Upper Division Out of Uniform - Dodgeball Team Day
Carpool/Bike to School day
Electronic Waste Recycling Day
Half-Day Schedule (No Chapel, No Block Periods)
• 12:45 – 1:45 -Cookout/Lunch (Upper Division Quad)
• 2:00 – 4:00 -Dodgeball Tournament (South Gym)
• 2:00 – 4:00 -Challenge 20/20 Electric Car Demonstration (North Parking Lot)
• 2:00 – 4:00 -Slow Bike Race
• 7:00 -Upper Division Choir Concert
• 4:00 – 9:00 -Casady STUCO night at Freddy’s Frozen Custard

Friday, April 23: Chalk signs quotes on volunteering!
Upper Division Out of Uniform - Honoring Casady Service (Service Organization T-shirts)Board of Visitors
8:00 – 8:25 - Chapel Service Featuring YAC video or Bon Jovi Video or Service-Learning video of teacher interviews
Block A/Block B - YAC/CPO
- Student Service Experience Interviews (filmed)
- Water Elimination Game

Saturday, April 24 Global Youth Service Day
8:30 – 11:30am - Environmental Club Adopt a Street Clean
2:00pm - H2Hope Carwash
9:00 – 11:30pm - Spring Dance

Sunday April 25 Global Youth Service Day
6:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. YAC volunteers at OKC Memorial Marathon in collaboration with Leardership Oklahoma City, Class XVII(17)

10:00 - 6:00 p.m. YAC volunteers at Children Activity Field at the Arts Festival. Mrs. Clay is the day chair of that event that day.

Curtains Supports Casady4H2ope

2010-02-18T18:42:00.005-06:00

Come out and see the most exciting musical comedy/mystery that Casady has ever done! Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7-9PM. It's five dollars to get in and the show is going to be great! The cast and crew have graciously decided to donate some of the profits towards Casady4H2ope Project. So please, support Little Theatre and the Casady4H2ope Project.

Westminster College Basketball Team Support

2010-02-18T14:31:00.004-06:00

Kenni Cornelson, Casady 09' graduate, posted these pics on Facebook. She's helping take our mission beyond Casady's borders. How cool is it that Kenni's team at Westminster College has partnered up and become a part of Team H2OPE.

Thanks, Kenni. And thanks Westminster girls!

Let's keep spreading the word. And enlisting others help.

We've got 66 days and counting. Let's keep it going!

Aces for Africa for Texas Hold 'em Tournament

2010-02-11T09:05:00.006-06:00

Last night was poker night for the boys basketball team. The fellas came "Vegas ready" with shades and caps to hide their scheming eyes.

The tournament quickly turned into seniors versus juniors/sophs.

And who emerged as "Aces 4 Africa" Texas Hold 'Em champion.

This Ace of Spades.

Preston S walked away with a $15 gift card to iTunes.

More importantly, the boys raised $120 for our School 4 Water campaign.

Great job, guys!

Let's keep it going.

Casady4H2OPE Launch Video

2010-01-30T11:39:00.002-06:00

Casady4H2OPE raised over $2,000 in one night! Thank you so much for your support. We're getting closer to our goal each day!

Photos from Casady v Heritage Launch Event

2010-01-28T17:22:00.007-06:00

H2OPE Team members helping set up the table in the gym.

H2OPE Team lining the sideline as Caitlin Britt shares the School for Water mission before the start of the boys game.

Senior, Rosie Atkinson, educates people on the water crisis students in Africa face, as well as about our partner, charity:water. Rosie has already helped raise over $1000 for the campaign. Her passion (almost obsession) for charity:water is quickly infecting her classmates and the whole Casady community.

A Big Night

2010-01-27T10:41:00.004-06:00

It started with the pep rally before the Casady vs Heritage Hall game.

Coach Bottomly spoke on the significance of the "School for Water" launch.

In Bottomly's words, "Tonight we have the opportunity to embark on a 90 day mission to provide real hope for an Ethiopian school of 1,000 students. Safe, clean drinking water holds the key for these kid's futures. This mission is sure not only to change the lives of these African children, but in the process, will certainly change and transform us."

At the game, Caitlin Britt, H2OPE Team Captain, spoke passionately before a packed house about the School for Water Mission.

Throughout the game, people had the opportunity to buy Team H2OPE t-shirts, wrist bands, and car decal stickers.

They also had the opportunity to text "Well" to 85944 to donate $5.

At halftime, H2OPE Team members passed around yellow jerry cans to collect cash donations.

The game itself was a hardly fought battle between two great rivals.

And although Casady was unable to "complete the sweep" (2-1 in football and basketball isn't bad!!!), Caitlin Britt quickly helped remove the bitter after taste of defeat when she sent out a jubilant Twitter directed at Scott Harrison (founder of Charity Water) and Lane Wood (Director of Schools for Water).

Caitlin's Twitter exclaimed,"We raised $1300.71 in ONE NIGHT!!!!!! That's not even counting the text money!!!:):)"

After a first day of donations over $1000, and the money raised at the Casady vs Heritage Hall game, we believe, as the H2OPE Team, that our goal of raising $20K is attainable.

We've just begun.

There's still 87 days to go.

So let's keep spreading the word. And enlisting the help of others.

1,000 TEXTS FOR 1,000 STUDENTS

2010-01-26T08:51:00.005-06:00

Charity:water has provided us an extraordinary window to launch our Schools for Water campaign.

Over the next 24 hours, we have the opportunity to raise money through our phones.

Here's our goal:

1,000 TEXTS FOR 1,000 STUDENTS.

Simply text "Well" to 85944 and donate $5 to our School for Water campaign.

Tell your friends and family (via facebook, myspace, blogs, text messages) that a

$5 donation will provide clean water for 1 African student for 5 years.

Believe it or not: our small contribution can help provide big changes for these students.

Specifically, our simple donation will provide girls age 12 & older the opportunity

to stay in school from the 8th grade to graduation.

No longer will these girls have to leave the classroom to walk 3 hours to carry

50 pound Jerry cans of clean water back to their family.

Instead these girls will get to write, calculate, create, observe, formulate, and absorb new knowledge that will equip and empower them to become self-sufficient citizens, capable of economic flourishing.

So text and donate!

Then text others and tell them to text and donate and text others to donate.

1,000 TEXTS FOR 1,000 STUDENTS!

We can do it.

Get Ready Cyclones!

2010-01-25T14:17:00.006-06:00

January 26Th is the official kick off of the Casady4H2ope Project! Don't forget to bring some money if you wish to purchase t-shirts, car stickers, and wristbands on Tuesday. Tomorrow you can text "Well" to 85944 to donate five dollars to the Schools For Water campaign. This will be a one day mission and our goal is to get 1000 texts. There will also be a special presentation at the start of the Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Heritage Hall game. Please, come out and show your support for not only the basketball team but also the Casady4H2ope Project. Let's go out there and make a win for water.

Starting Off the New Year with a Splash

2010-01-08T12:16:00.006-06:00

After chatting with Caitlin Britt about the CASADY4H2OPE project, senior Rosie Atkinson stepped up to the plate and deciced to host an event that would help meet our goal of 20000 dollars. Rosie said that the idea was pretty simple. Why not have her dad's New Year's Party be something more than just a celebration of the New Year? Mr. Atkinson agreed with the idea and they both decided that the party should have a charity:water theme. By showing both the September Birthday video and our video, the Atkinsons managed to raise a total of 900 dollars! She said," the CASADY4H2OPE project is really exciting becasue it's easy to get involved". Rosie also noted that they keep getting more donations even after the party because the word spread fast. The H2OPE team would like to thank Rosie for hosting this supportive event and encourages anyone else to talk with any memeber of the H2OPE Team about how they can help too.

A Letter from Coach Bottomly

2009-12-14T12:24:00.002-06:00

An Introductory Note from Coach Bottomly

Sam Wise Gamgee is my favorite literary character. Many of you know Sam because either you have read or seen the film version of Tolkien’s epic trilogy The Lord of the Rings . There is a scene early in The Fellowship of the Rings, where Sam misses home, but gazing over at his friend, Frodo, realizes that he has crossed a Rubicon – a point of no return. Whispering almost to himself, Sam says, “I know the long journey ahead isn’t to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains – those things I thought I wanted. Now I don’t rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me.”

What I love about Sam is that he doesn’t know how important his role is in the mission. Often Sam chides himself for being a bumbling, screw up hobbit. He thinks that he’s only putting the mission at risk. Little does Sam know, ironically, that he will be the epic hero of the story.

In graduate school, I studied Tolkien’s version of quest in depth to understand his massive cross-generational appeal. What I discovered is that in Tolkien’s version, a quest involves an underdog protagonist who has been summoned by election (not volition) to a mission with a daunting task. Consequently, to accomplish the mission, the bumbling underdog must rely on a motley gang of friends (think Wizard of Oz) to help him accomplish the task. In other words, the bumbling “I” must depend upon a bumbling “we”. In addition, I discovered, all quests involve risk, uncertainty, and the real possibility of failure. From the outset, then, the protagonist must measure the cost involved, and at many points, take leaps of faith. Usually, only in the end, does the protagonist look back and realize that the hardship and suffering then was worth the joy and celebration now.

I say all this to serve as a backdrop for this basketball season. This week I have summoned the basketball team to join me, along with many other Casady students, on a quest with an epic arc. Our concrete goal is to help raise monies and awareness to provide 1,000 students in Africa with clean, safe water. Many of you who know me and my wife (and our son, Silas) know how dear Africa, and specifically, Ethiopia, are to us. This mission then goes straight to the heart.

The 5 Challenge then is my way of getting this team to participate in a journey of significance. I will let your son explain this challenge and the subsequent mission. But if you would like to learn more and even get involved with us, I’d encourage you to go to http://casady4h2ope.blogspot.com.

In closing, I am reminded of a passage from Victor Frankl’s holocaust memoir Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl’s thesis, forged on the anvil of suffering in a German “death camp”, involved the idea that as human beings, we can live without sex, money, or power, but we can not live without meaning. We exist, in other words, not to ask what life means, but for life to ask us what we mean.

Toward the end of his long meditation, Frankl concludes his memoir with these words:

Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.

My hope and prayer is that every single player, 9th through 12th grade, will discover, like Sam Gamgee, their crucial role for the success of our mission.

To a great journey ahead,

Coach Bottomly

T-Shirt Sells!

2009-12-14T12:11:00.004-06:00

After our chapel launch, Casady UD students were excited to start raising $$$ by purchasing Team Hope T-shirts.

Over $1100 raised on the 1st day!

We will sell t-shirts again on Jan. 26th in the field house at the Heritage Hall game.

The Pre-Launch

2009-12-04T13:27:00.005-06:00

This morning 296 Upper Division Students and 215 Middle Division Students

(along with 50+ faculty)

heard the story,

the mission,

the vision,

and received their summoning.

To get educated.

To get creative.

To get involved.

Already we're hearing reports of ideas students are having to participate.

It's only begun.

New-T shirt...buy...buy...buy!

2009-12-03T12:41:00.004-06:00

Buy a H2OPE T-shirt for $15 and all the profits will help us toward reaching our goal to provide one African school with clean, safe water!

We will be selling in Student Center during A Block, B Block, and after lunch on Friday and Monday next week.

Student Promo Video

2009-12-03T09:51:00.002-06:00

Why Water?

2009-11-15T17:01:00.017-06:00

1.1 billion people on our planet lack access to safe, clean drinking water.

That's one in six of us.

80% of all disease on the planet is attributable to the lack of water and basic sanitation.

To learn more click here.

Water for Schools

50% of all schools in developing countries do not have clean water.

Or bathroom facilities. Or hygiene resources.

Now there is a way we can help change this.

To learn more click here.

$20 = 20 years of clean H20 -> 1 Person

Underground aquifers can be found even in dry areas,

and with the proper funding and knowledge,

wells can be built.

A freshwater well costs $5,000

and can serve an average of 500 people with clean,

safe drinking water for 20 years.

To learn more click here.

What happens after a well is built?

After a well is installed, charity: water partners work directly with villagers,

teaching them how to maintain and fix their well and hand pump device,

while also conducting basic hygiene and sanitation classes.

To learn more about charity: water's partners click here.

Closing the loop: proving it with Google Earth

charity: water proves every well built

using photos, video, and GPS coordinates plotted in Google Earth.

if we raise $20,000, 12-18 months later,

not only will we get a plaque engraved at the school,

but charity: water staff or volunteers will visit the project on the ground,

to take photos and videos of the work done.

To learn more click here.

Simply put, This is WHY

A Cup of Dirty Water

2009-11-12T18:12:00.007-06:00

Would you drink this?
Women and children in Africa walk miles a day just to fill up their jugs with water similar to the water in the photo above. Now if you're disgusted with what it look likes like imagine what it taste like. Would you drink water that is hot, muddy, and infested with thousands of disease causing bacteria. The truth is this. Many people in Africa have to drink this every day in order to survive. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation causes 80% of all sickness and disease. You can make a difference. Help us by supporting our cause. Follow us on twitter, become a fan on facebook, donate, and get involved in the Casady4H2OPE project.

The H2OPE Team

2009-11-12T08:12:00.002-06:00

New T-shirt design

2009-11-11T15:24:00.006-06:00

The H2OPE Creative Team was humming with ideas in class today about the new t-shirt.

You can kind of make out the FRONT.

And BACK.

Not sure yet what to put on the sleeve.

The plan is to sell the t-shirt to EVERYONE

in the Casady community after the launch event on December 4th.

So mark your calender.

All profits go toward the $20,000 goal.

Good work, team.

Simply put, this is the why

2009-11-10T15:21:00.002-06:00

Simply put, this is the why.

Think About It

2009-11-10T13:17:00.005-06:00

400 million hours each year.

That's how much time girls age 12 and over

in developing countries like Ethiopia

spend fetching clean water,

instead of attending school.

Think of how much creativity,

brain power,

innovation,

curiosity,

and passion

could be harnessed in the classroom

if young girls had safe, clean water running through their schools and villages?

2009-11-09T20:53:00.003-06:00

Last week Jody Landers, a native Iowan, a mother of six, and founder of Water 4 Christmas, visited Liberia to see in person the water projects she helped raise money for with charity: water. When someone recently asked Jody why she loves charity:water, she just pointed to this picture and said, "This is why."

1,247 water projects completed.

650,000 people served.

The H2OPE Team T-Shirt

2009-11-08T19:36:00.007-06:00

Last week our Team T-shirts arrived!

They were designed by our Creative Team Leader, Travis Hibdon.

Here is the front.

The back.

And the sleeve. We took the Schools for Water symbol and the whole Apple concept of "Specialist" and adapted it to "Solutionist".

The simple idea is that we are all part of the solution.

Travis is working on a similar design for a T-shirt we will unveil for public purchase in the weeks ahead in which all the proceeds will go toward our goal of $20,000.

So stay tune.

Our Partner's Story

2009-11-08T13:39:00.000-06:00

The 5 Challenge

2009-11-07T14:40:00.031-06:00

It's a simple challenge.

Come up with a creative fundraiser.

As a class. Grade. Team. Family. Group of friends. Or yourself.

Then recruit 5 people to participate.

For example;

Coach Bottomly is having his basketball players

get 5 people to donate $1, $5, or whatever $ amount

every time they win a game.

They are calling it a "Win for Water".

Brainstorm with your teachers. Parents. Friends.

Ask them: what could we do to rise to this challenge

to help students rise to overcome a greater challenge:

living without clean water.
____

All donations will go to charity: water and are tax-deductible.

100% of all monies will go directly to providing a school in Africa

of 1,000 students,

a new well,

new bathroom facilities,

and new hygiene resources,

so students can drink clear water,

go to the bathroom in a dignifying way,

and receive added protection from infection and disease.

___

Eventually, your 5 people will ask - how do I donate?

It's simple.

Just click the Donate button.

But wait until January 26.

We only have a 3 month window of time (January 26-April 26)

to run our campaign on charity: water's web site,

where your 5 people will receive a tax deduction,

but more importantly, where every dollar they give

goes toward our goal of $20,000,

breaking the vicious cycle of extreme poverty for

one school,

and one community in Africa,

and helping building a foundation for a better, brighter, and hope-filled future.
___

Will you help us do that?

The Story and Mission

2009-10-20T20:55:00.019-05:00

So on the first day of class we watched the video below.

It felt like stepping through a doorway.

On the other side we discovered a world within our world.

Made up of over a billion people who don't have access to clean drinking water.

Stop and think about that.

That's 1 out of every 6 people on the planet.

We also learned other disturbing things.

Like the fact that every 15 seconds another person dies of a water-related disease.

1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10...11...12...13...14...15.

Another completely preventable H2O tragedy.

That equals about 4,500 deaths a day.

90% of those fatalities are children.

____

And then there are schools.

Like ours.

50% of them are without water in developing countries.

That means that for every other little girl or boy

they go thirsty all day in school.

Imagine what it would have been like if after recess,

after hanging on the monkeybars,

and chasing your classmate in a game of duck-duck-goose,

that there was no water to quench your thirst.

That reality just doesn't seem possible.

And yet it is.

What's worse is that often girls age 12 and above have to leave school

and walk 3 hours a day to fetch water for their families.

Every year girls miss over 400 million hours of school

just to fetch water.

It's ironic, really.

We ask our teachers for a drink to get out of class.

H2O is our free ticket out of learning.

But for girls in many parts of Africa, the lack of water forces them out.

When they would rather be in the classroom.

Reading. Writing. Drawing. Counting.

_______

Just think then what safe, clean water will do.

For children. For girls. For schools. For villages. For countries.

That's what we've been doing A LOT lately.

Thinking. And wondering. And imagining. And dreaming.

And asking the question, What if.

Now we're ready to ACT.

To take our learning from the classroom into the community.

We want to tackle a global problem,

in a local way,

through a simple solution.

_____

So here's the skinny.

In partnership with charity: water, our goal is to raise $20,000 to cover the comprehensive water cost for a new well, new bathroom facilities, and new hygiene resources for one African school.

That's $20K for 1,000 students to have safe, clean water.

All donations go to charity: water, are tax-deductible,

and 100% goes directly to water solutions.

Which will provide boys and girls the equal opportunity to attend school.

Making it possible to break the cycle of poverty,

and making it possible to dream of a new kind of future.

One with real hope.

_______

To accomplish our mission- we need your passion, courage, and innovation.

Consider this your summoning.

To get educated.

To get creative.

To get involved.

Become a part of the H2OPE solution.

And help us eliminate extreme poverty for one school in Africa.