Doc Hendley: bartender who turns wine to water in developing world, among CNN’s Top 10 Heroes

Bartender Doc Hendley, whose nonprofit Wine to Water has brought sustainable water systems to 25,000 people in five countries, has been chosen as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009.

Since 2004, Hendley has traveled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Cambodia, working with local communities to build clean water wells and sanitation systems.

He first learned about the world’s water crisis when he took a break from college. “I began seeing the figures of people that don’t have access to clean water — and it absolutely floored me,” he recalls.

After a year of service in Darfur, Hendley returned to the States and continued his fundraising events while focusing on ways his group could improve upon other water project models.“Throughout the desert there were bore holes for wells all over the place, they just weren’t working,” says Hendley.

Wine to Water is dedicated to achieving sustainability through education and empowerment of local community members, training them to install, maintain and repair their own water systems.

In addition to receiving US$ 25,000 (€ 17,0007), Hendley and the other Top 10 will be honoured at “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” on 26 November 2009. In an online poll that is open until 19 November, the public will determine which of the Heroes will receive an additional US$ 100,000 (€ 68,000).

Related web site: Wine to Water

Source: CNN, 02 Oct 2009 and CNN profile of Doc Hendley, 01 May 2009

Keywords

• Financing
• Water supply
• Africa