crowdRipple Launches Clean Water Crowdfunding Resource on World Water Day

As the world recognizes World Water Day, an international call to action on water-related issues designated by the United Nations, crowdRipple announced the launch of its crowdfunding directory focused on campaigns related to clean water initiatives around the world, and the launch of a Blue and Green Innovation Hub in Flint, Mich.

crowdRipple curates crowdfunding campaigns that “do good,” specifically focusing on campaigns related to water. By hand-selecting campaigns from other platforms - Kickstarter, Generosity, Indiegogo, etc. - crowdRipple ensures that its featured campaigns meet its mission of creating positive environmental, societal and financial change.

Nearly 200 campaigns featured on the site address the immediate need to get clean drinking water into nearly 10,000 Flint households that have been contaminated by lead during the past two years.

“I have spent years in Africa working with communities on issues related to water - access, scarcity, cleanliness - but never dreamed that I’d be facing the same situation upon returning home to Michigan,” said Israel Unger, founder and president of crowdRipple. “I created crowdRipple initially to support communities in other countries who are desperate for clean drinking water, but the crisis in Flint has opened my eyes to the great need here at home.”

Out of 9,940 addresses tested for lead from September 2015-February 2016, 666 were found to have levels of more than 15 parts per billion. For 17 of the samples, lead levels were more than 1,000 parts per billion. High concentrations of lead in water can cause permanent brain damage in children and multiple other health issues.

In addition to crowdfunding, crowdRipple is also a founding member of a new Blue and Green Innovation Hub located in the Flintopia building at 2002 Lewis St. in Flint. Flintopia was created by Erich James Spielmaker in 2013 as an urban, sustainable and organic farming cooperative. The new Innovation Hub is currently accepting applications for nine environmentally focused startups to join. Rent will be free, and crowdRipple will host crowdfunding campaigns to help tenants get their social innovations off the ground.

“The Blue and Green Innovation Hub provides startups interested in making positive social and environmental change in Flint the space, like-minded community, and financial support needed to grow,” continued Unger. “As a socially conscious entrepreneur myself, I understand the support needed to turn a passion for creating positive change into a sustainable business.”

crowdRipple also offers a way to support its curated campaigns through its Ripple Marketplace where items including apparel, food, outdoor gadgets, and gift items allow buyers to link their financial expenditures to a cause that is important to them.

About crowdRipple
crowdRipple is a curated directory of crowdfunding campaigns focused on creating positive environmental, societal and financial change around the world or in your own backyard. For more information, visit: crowdripple.com.