Submitted by Anneliese Huizinga, executive assistant, and Scott Maxwell, chair, Wells of Hope

For anyone who doesn’t know about Wells of Hope, it is a Niagara-based charity that drills water wells and builds schools and other infrastructure in Guatemala, so that people in small towns and villages have access to clean drinking water.

This season’s projects continued in the Santa María mountains of Jalapa, Guatemala, with the goal of drilling two wells. We’re happy to say we’ve doubled that goal this season, successfully drilling four wells. In the last 15 years, Wells of Hope has drilled 28 wells, which have benefitted more than 80,000 people in Jalapa.

Wells of Hope is able to achieve all its goals, and then some, thanks to the continuous support of its grassroots in the Niagara Region and throughout Canada. One of our major fundraisers is our annual Passion event, which takes place this Friday, Sept. 13, from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Chateau des Charmes in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Tickets are $75, and all proceeds of the event go towards Wells of Hope projects.

Attendees — in addition to finding out more about what Wells of Hope has accomplished in the last year — will be able to savour food from different local restaurants, including the Prince of Wales, Queen’s Landing and Pillar and Post Hotels, Canyon Creek, PigOut, Con Gusto Artisan Bakery, Grounds for Hope Café, and Il Gelato di Carlotta. 

Those in attendance can also sip Chateau des Charmes wines, Oast beer and Niagara College beer and cider, while being entertained by the acclaimed Ron Dewberry.

There will also be a silent auction.

Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.niagarapassion.com. Any questions can be answered by calling 1-866 392-3530 or emailing us at water@wellsofhope.com.

Scott Maxwell is the board chair of Wells of Hope.