BLOG: Giving in the Month of May

Can you believe it's May?

On May 30, the Groundwater Foundation is once again participating in Give to Lincoln Day, which promotes philanthropy in our hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Any gifts given to the Groundwater Foundation between now and May 30 through this link help us earn a portion of a $450,000 match fund from the Lincoln Community Foundation and its sponsors.

We're proud to be part of our city, and proud of the work we do locally. We work with teachers, students, and various parts of our community to foster groundwater education and protection efforts.

Please remember groundwater on Give to Lincoln Day, and make your gift to help more people understand groundwater - the water Lincoln drinks - and take action to protect it.

BLOG: Giving Unites A City

by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

The Groundwater Foundation was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. Founder Susan Seacret started The Groundwater Foundation out of her home in 1985, and 30 years later, we still call Lincoln home.

Lincoln is a great city. It's big enough to offer jobs, great schools, entertainment, recreation, and more, but still feels like a big small town. Lincoln is also home to a number of amazing nonprofit organizations that do great things for our city.

Groundwater is the water Lincoln drinks, and something every Lincolnite should know about as their drinking water source. The Groundwater Foundation may be a national organization, but we work locally in our city, with educators, youth, and community members to help everyone understand groundwater and their role in protecting it.

The Groundwater Foundation is once again participating in Give to Lincoln Day. Starting May 1 and through the day itself on May 31, every donation given to The Groundwater Foundation and other local nonprofits is made bigger by matching funds. It is one special day where everyone in Lincoln is asked to support the organizations that contribute so much to our city.

Gifts given as part of Give to Lincoln Day help The Groundwater Foundation earn a proportional share of a $400,000 challenge match fund from the Lincoln Community Foundation and their sponsors. 

Even if you don't live in Lincoln, you can help support The Groundwater Foundation's work by making a donation as part of Give to Lincoln Day - you can be an honorary Lincolnite for the month of May. 

So make your gift do more and be part of uniting a city through giving and Give to Lincoln Day!

BLOG: 10 from 2016

by Jennifer Wemhoff, The Groundwater Foundation

The door is about to close on 2016. Here's a look back on 10 things that happened at The Groundwater Foundation this year:

1. Our mission was revamped and refocused: We connect people, businesses, and communities through local groundwater education and action, making us all part of the solution for clean, sustainable groundwater.

2. Amazing volunteer teams across the U.S. were recognized for local, proactive efforts to educate their communities and protect groundwater through the Groundwater Guardian program.

3. The Nebraska MEDS (Medication Education on Disposal Strategies) Coalition, which The Groundwater Foundation is a founding member, worked with nearly 300 pharmacies across Nebraska to take back thousands of pounds of unwanted or expired medication for proper disposal, keeping them out of water supplies.

4. The Hydrogeology Challenge event created for Science OIympiad (SO) was featured in the 2016 National Tournament. The Challenge has been adapted for use in classrooms and extracurricular activities beyond SO.

5. Two new members joined The Groundwater Foundation's board of directors, Chris Barnett of the Marion County Wellfield Education Corporation in Indianapolis, IN and Kirk Welch of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District in Dumas, TX.

6. The Groundwater Foundation's Twitter account topped 4,300 followers, and Facebook went over 2,300. We also ventured into the world of Instagram.

7. The Awesome Aquifer Kit was adopted as part of the K-5 science curriculum in The Groundwater Foundation's hometown school system, Lincoln Public Schools. 

8. A new collaboration with University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Science Literacy includes The Groundwater Foundation as part of an effort to educate secondary educators.

9. Green spaces across the U.S. participated in the Green Site program and received designation for managing their site with groundwater in mind.

10. Sara Brock joined the groundwater team as Program Manager, heading up the Groundwater Guardian program, youth programs, and others.

We're glad to have you as a partner in our mission and in protecting groundwater. Cheers to groundwater in 2017!

2016 "Be Waterwise" Poster Contest

By: Jessica Wheeler, The Groundwater Foundation

The Lincoln, Nebraska Groundwater Guardian team hosts an annual water conservation poster contest for fifth graders across the city. The first place winner's art will be featured on a StarTran bus board and the second place winner's artwork will be featured on billboards throughout Lincoln.

 First place - Aleena Nguyen, Pyrtle Elementary

Second place - Evyn Shafer, Lincoln Christian

Tied for third place - Alaina Nielsen, Morley Elementary

Tied for third place - Caleb Schwerdtfeger, St. John's

How does your community get involved with water conservation and protection? Join the Groundwater Guardian program, a nationwide network of over 70 communities working locally to raise groundwater awareness.