African Well Fund Launches Eighth Annual Build a Well for Bono's Birthday Fundraiser

For the past four years, I have been lucky enough to volunteer with the African Well Fund, a completely grassroots, volunteer-run nonprofit founded by U2 fans that raises money to fund clean water and sanitation projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Every year, AWF hosts a fundraiser in honor of Bono's birthday. This year, the U2 lead singer, Nobel Prize nominee, artist, humanitarian, hero to us all is turning 50 so AWF is aiming to raise $50,000 between now and May 10, Bono's birthday. This money will be used to fund a project in Zimbabwe.

To reach this goal, we need to spread the word to as many people as possible, so any support I can get from those of you who happen upon this page from time to time is tremendously appreciated.

Thank you!!

African Well Fund Launches Eighth Annual Build a Well for Bono's Birthday Fundraiser

Nonprofit organization hopes to raise $50,000 between March 22 and May 10 to fund water and sanitation projects in Zimbabwe in honor of the U2 lead singer's 50th birthday.

SCHENECTADY , N.Y. – The African Well Fund has launched its eighth annual Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraiser. To honor the U2 lead singer's 50th birthday, the nonprofit is aiming to raise $50,000 during the 50-day period of March 22 to May 10. All funds raised will benefit a community water and sanitation project in the Buhera District of Zimbabwe that will be implemented by Africare, African Well Fund's partner.

"It makes me proud to be a part of the U2 fan community and, in my opinion, there is no other community like it and that's why this year, in honor of Bono's 50th birthday, we've decided to set our highest goal yet to raise $50,000 in 50 days," said Rob Trigalet, board chairman for the African Well Fund. "We know that it will not only take people donating but, just as important, we'll be asking everyone who supports us to help spread the word through Facebook, Twitter and the various blogs and fan sites that our supporters may be involved with. We think this is a great year to try and really get the word out to as many people as possible."

To reach the $50,000 goal, the African Well Fund is accepting donations through its website, selling a limited-edition print by artist Azalea Millet, selling limited-edition merchandise through Zazzle, and auctioning U2 live photos and U2 360 Tour concert tickets on eBay.

Millet has donated limited-edition hand-signed and numbered prints that will be sold for $50 through the African Well Fund's website beginning Monday, March 29.

"I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for AWF and its mission to provide villages in Africa with clean water by building wells," said Millet, whose artwork has also been used as the inspiration for this year's Build a Well for Bono's Birthday logo and merchandise. "I want to show my support by doing all I can to help them raise money to meet their goal of $50,000 for Bono's 50th birthday."

The U2 live photo auction, the third auction of U2 concert photos taken by fans and professional photographers that the African Well Fund has hosted, will be held from Sunday, April 18 through Sunday, April 25. The 2007 photo auction raised over $7,000 for that year's Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraiser; the 2006 photo auction raised over $11,000 for that year's fundraiser.

General admission tickets for U2 360 Tour dates in Salt Lake City , Anaheim and Philadelphia will be auctioned between Monday, May 3 and Saturday, May 8. In 2009, auctions of U2 concert tickets raised nearly $500 for that year's Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraiser.

All donors will be invited to add their birthday wishes to a card that will be sent to Bono via Principle Management.

"Bono has referred to this fundraiser as his 'favorite birthday gift,'" Trigalet said. "I really believe that this year might be the best one yet."

Donations from the seven previous Build a Well for Bono's Birthday fundraisers have totaled over $170,000 and have been used to fund water and sanitation projects implemented by African Well Fund partner Africare to benefit more than 28,000 people in Angola, Ethiopia, Liberia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The African Well Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of funding clean water and sanitation projects in sub-Saharan Africa . Since its founding in 2002, the African Well Fund has raised more than $700,000 to fund more than 200 projects in 13 African nations, benefiting more than 260,000 people.