For release: November 30, 2012
For press information, contact Donna Collier, Campus Store Manager, 901-678-3976

The University of Memphis Official Campus Store & Café is the latest stop on The Thirst Project’s School Tour. The Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization working to raise awareness about the global water crisis, a problem that affects more than one billion people.The project helps drill water wells around the world to generate and promote access to clean drinking water. A freshwater well in most developing nations costs as little as $5,000 to build and can greatly improve lives of people who have access to that well.

The U of M event on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. in the café area of the campus store will educate the public about this issue and about the exciting ways students are getting involved to make a big impact.  Also on hand for the event will be the U of M student chapter of Engineers Without Borders, whose members for the past year have worked at a village in Bolivia to help create the infrastructure to provide the residents with clean water.  They will have a display documenting their continuing work on that project.

“We are proud to support The Thirst Project’s mission to educate students about the water crisis, which currently affects more than one billion people around the world,” said Donna Collier, store manager at the U of M Official Campus Store & Café.  “As The University of Memphis’ campus bookstore, we are focused on maximizing education, and this is a great opportunity for students to learn more about a global issue and how they can be part of the solution.”

Follett Higher Education Group, operator of the University of Memphis Official Campus Store & Café and more than 930 other campus stores across North America, is one of the leading sponsors of The Thirst Project. The company’s support is based on a shared commitment with The Thirst Project to ensure that young people have access to essential knowledge and to the resources that they need. Follett helps drive students’ success by ensuring that they have affordable access to the textbooks they need. Likewise, The Thirst Project works to help people gain access to clean drinking water.

“Follett’s partnership enables The Thirst Project to reach and engage thousands of college students who are passionate about ending the global water crisis,” said Seth Maxwell, founder of The Thirst Project. “Their support has been vital in our efforts to drive awareness of the need for accessible, clean drinking water in communities around the world.”

More information about The Thirst Project and its global efforts to improve access to clean drinking water is available online at www.thirstproject.org.