The NFL's Chris Long Kicks-Off "WaterSunday with the Waterboys" in Philadelphia

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, November 30, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- More than 100 Philadelphia-area faith leaders recently gathered with the NFL's Chris Long, the Founder of the Waterboys Initiative and a current member of the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line. The capacity crowd was eager to learn about Long's commitment to bring clean water to East Africa through the Waterboys Initiative, an effort he founded in 2015. Since then, players and fans have helped to fund water projects providing more than 100,000 people with sustainable clean water. Long commented: "People of all faiths are supporting the Waterboys effort and I'm grateful that church leaders are willing to join forces for a cause so aligned to basic human dignity for our brothers and sisters."

WaterSunday with the Waterboys provides a chance for congregations, communities, families and individuals to unite to raise funds and awareness for the clean water crisis. The date for the inaugural campaign is Sunday, January 28 - the Sunday before Super Bowl Sunday - though congregations and groups can choose an alternate date according to what works best for their community. The invitation to participate is also open to congregations around the country, not just those present for the Philadelphia kick-off. The goal is to fund at least two water projects as part of WaterSunday with the Waterboys.

Supporting the effort is the non-profit, WorldServe International (a benefiting charity of the Waterboys Initiative and the implementing partner for its East African water projects). For many years, WorldServe has facilitated WaterSunday events in numerous congregations. In keeping with tradition, most congregations and groups will host a special WaterSunday with the Waterboys offering, supported by WorldServe and Waterboys through:

VIDEOS: Compelling videos about the clean water crisis - customized with a message from Waterboys Founder, Chris Long
SPECIAL READINGS: Selected readings to faithfully encourage community members to search their hearts with new understanding and generosity
KIDS' ENGAGEMENT TOOLS: Simple, youth-centric materials to inform and engage young people in understanding and helping address the clean water crisis
COMMUNITY BUILDING IDEAS: A variety of tools and tips to allow a robust and meaningful WaterSunday with the Waterboys challenge

All resources will be available without charge after completion of a brief online request form at www.worldserveintl.org/waterboys-org

Founded in 1996, WorldServe's hallmark is the implementation of large capacity wells with the capacity to sustainably (through solar power and other components) provide clean water for 5000+ people. Reverend Tim Enloe, who facilitates congregations' WaterSunday events for WorldServe, shared exciting news about the projects funded through WaterSunday with the Waterboys: "These projects will be strategically placed as part of a new church planting or within a community where an existing church is struggling with persecution or other challenges, in addition to water insecurity. As we provide life-giving water we are allowing the gift of Living Water to flow."

John Bongiorno, President of WorldServe International, commented: "We are excited to see how much WaterSunday can expand through the power of Waterboys. Chris is such a passionate and humble advocate for clean water and his unselfish commitment to this critical issue - which causes the death of a child every two minutes - is inspiring."

ABOUT THE WATERBOYS INITIATIVE (www.Waterboys.org): Created by the NFL's Chris Long, through The Chris Long Foundation, the Waterboys Initiative engages NFL players, teams, and fans with the cause of clean water in sub-Saharan Africa. To date, 29 wells have been funded with more than 100,000 people in Tanzania, East Africa receiving their daily water from a well project funded through the Waterboys Initiative.

ABOUT WORLDSERVE INTERNATIONAL (www.WorldServeIntl.org): A Springfield, Missouri-based non-profit organization, WorldServe International has been working in East Africa since 2001. WorldServe's mission is: To Provide Clean Water, Sanitation, Education and Economic Opportunities to Alleviate Suffering. With clean water as the foundation, communities are able to become self-sufficient, capable of adding additional services such as health care, sanitation, job training and education.

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