Featured Citizen Philanthropist: Glenn Ohlsen
by Brett Walling
Tuesday September 29, 2009 at 8:57am, EST
How would you raise $3,700 for a sanitation project? Maybe a happy hour event? Possibly a 5K run? How about riding your bicycle 3,092 miles cross-country from the Pacific to the Atlantic?
Meet Glenn Ohlsen, a bicycle enthusiast from Boulder, Colorado. Through 1Well, Glenn has partnered with Bandhwad Village to fund 16 toilet units that will dramatically help improve sanitation and health in the community. Glenn will be bicycling for 6 weeks from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL to raise awareness for his project and 1Well. “1Well is unique in that it allows individuals and communities the opportunity to give directly to specific projects.”, Glenn writes. ”You see exactly where and how your donation will be utilized, and 100% of donations go directly towards the project.” Glenn hopes to not only inspire his friends and family to donate to the cause, but looks forward to meeting and engaging new friends on his journey across America. Read more.
Bandhwad village is a small rural village without plumbing and toilet facilities that is prone to serious health risks. Community members must walk to the outskirts of the village to go to the bathroom so to not risk contaminating their water source. Despite these precautions, infection rates of disease have risen substantially. In addition to the health risks, the lack of facilities negatively impacts the productivity of adults and schooling of the children in the community.
Funding raised by Glenn on his ride across the US will help solve the health and sanitation problems in Bandhwad village by creating 16 indoor sanitation units. Local engineers will construct two separate facilities for men and women, each with 8 toilets and soak pit (sustainable, rural treatment) units. “The dollar goes a long way in India (project costs are low compared to what they’d be here), so raising the needed funds for these projects is attainable”, Glenn says. Just seven days into his journey, Glenn has already covered 435 miles and raised $975. With access to these sanitary facilities, the people of Bandhwad will regain their health, and the time with which to create a productive community.
You can stay up to date on Glenn’s cross-country journey as 1Well tracks his weekly progress. Learn more about the Bandhwad Sanitation Project and Glenn’s goal of providing the community with the clean, healthy environment they deserve.
Interested in becoming a 1Well Citizen Philanthropist? Get involved! Like Glenn, you can positively impact a community by funding toilet and sanitation facilities. Become a 1Well Citizen Philanthropist and provide the 5,500 people of Vadgam Village with the clean, healthy environment needed for a community to thrive. Start by picking your own project here.
