The Splash Bash, a free benefit concert for the Thirst Project, was held at Valparaiso's Central Park Plaza on August 1st. The Thirst Project is a non profit organization started by a 19 year old college student, Seth Maxwell, in 2007. The project helps to raise awareness and bring solutions to the clean water crisis. Statistics show that 4,400 children die everyday from drinking contaminated water and approximately 1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water.
In this situation, water is both the problem and the solution! By selling water and T-shirts and collecting donations at this event our community is helping raise funds for building a well in Africa. This one well will be saving an entire African community from the burdens that come with drinking contaminated water.
Bridget Muntzing, and intern to the Thirst Project and one of the head organizers of the event said, "My favorite part about being involved in this event is building relationships with people! People who I can work together with to actual making something happen and benefit the world."
Kristen Muntzing, Bridget Muntzing's mother and volunteer, was thrilled to be involved with this project. She said, "There will be so many wonderful outcomes associated with this event. The money that we are raising for these wells are actually saving lives! One well can change a community forever. I am so thankful we have such great community to come out and support this event."
Carl Harsh, another proud mother of one of the head organizers, said, "Being able to support my daughter, who helped to coordinate this event, is my favorite part about being involved in this event, it is a very rewarding feeling to know I'm helping to save lives and I am so happy my daughter is involved in such an important cause."
Bands that played at the Thirst Project included Sharp James, a young Valparaiso band including John Miller, Quinn Donnell, Jay Smith and Max Barnett, Stop.Drop.Rewind, a Valparaiso based band consisting of Kris Lohn, DJ Crenson and James Hamilton, Anchors, a rock band from Valparaiso who's members included CJ Morse, Brad Briggs, Dj Field, Matthew Buist, David Black, and Coyote Talk, a Nashville based indie soloist, Josh Frigo.
Not only was there fun live music to sit back and relax while listening to, there was also great vendors like Valpo Vienna, Valpo Velvet,La Bodega de Lake Station, Roots Juice Cafe, Papa Johns, Kernels & Kones.
Overall, the Spash Bash was a fun filled evening full of good music, food and company. All of those who made donations and bought T-shirts and water ,or even just came out to hear to music, should feel very honored to have participated in and supported a very important cause.
Click here for more photos from the concet!