Putting Our Best Feet Forward

Dear John,

Thirteen summers ago, when Circle of Blue was young, Carl and I needed a picture to draw attention to a fundraising opportunity that presented itself at short notice.

My daughter, aged 7, agreed to perch on a log in the shore surf of Lake Michigan. That is, she signed on after I promised her she could have a special treat - a sugar cube.

I held her small hand to steady her as the waves tickled her feet, and Carl shot photo after photo, aiming to get the laughing water just right. I told Kira that she, like each child around the world, was the reason her dad and I started Circle of Blue. We wanted to help people make better choices about how they use and take care of water, so that everybody can have good water, and enough water. I suppose she wondered why that was such a big deal, since as far as her eye could see, there was beautiful water everywhere.

Since then, our daughter has grown from painting “CoB” rocks to pursuing languages in college, on her own path to social justice in the world. All along the way, she has inspired us, reminding us that every day, we choose the difference we make in our lives and those around us.

We invite you to make such a choice today. Until the end of this week, NewsMatch will match your new monthly donation 12 times or double your one-time gift, up to $1,000.

Your support for Circle of Blue is at the heart of our ability to inform a better water future for us all. Now, with your help, we can raise up to $28,000 and continue bringing readers like you the reporting you rely on.

And while I can’t entice you with a sugar cube, I think you’ll find our NewsMatch challenge even sweeter.