American Standard supports Plumbers Without Borders

American Standard Brands is supporting the philanthropic work of Plumbers Without Borders with a $60,000 donation.

Four years after the 2010 earthquake, efforts to restore access to clean drinking water continue throughout Haiti. Plumbers Without Borders (PWB) worked with students at Haiti Tec, teaching them to install water purification systems designed to help address this critical need. Photo courtesy of American Standard

The beneficiaries of Plumbers Without Borders (PWB) efforts include these youngsters attending a school in the town of St. Marc, Haiti. They use a water purification system installed by Haiti Tec students who were trained by PWB instructors. Photo courtesy of American Standard

American Standard Brands is supporting the philanthropic work of Plumbers Without Borders (PWB) with a $60,000 donation that supports the group's mission to connect volunteer plumbers with organizations that are working to increase access to safe water and sanitation worldwide.

“Plumbers Without Borders is a grassroots effort, born from the desire to help people in dire need,” said PWB’s Fred Schilling. “We know we can make a difference to alleviate human suffering and disease caused by the lack of safe plumbing and hygienic sanitation.”

The donation will be used to help PWB develop their database of plumbers and mechanical tradespeople around the world who want to volunteer their services to improve hygiene, access to clean water, and help save lives. Volunteers who are registered in this databank can then be connected with organizations seeking their assistance. PWB’s ultimate goal is to serve as a complete plumbing and sanitation information hub for both volunteers and humanitarian organizations

“We have always believed that plumbers play a crucial role in protecting health and helping to prevent disease,” said Jay Gould, president and CEO of American Standard Brands. “Plumbers Without Borders is doing so much to improve sanitation and quality of life around the world, and we are proud to help them expand their capabilities with this sponsorship.”

“It’s been very exciting to watch this organization grow and develop, borne from a desire to use our plumbing trade to save lives beyond our own communities,” said Schilling. “With this generous sponsorship from American Standard, we will be able to build a crucial resource that will allow us to help even more people all around the world.”

Plumbers Without Borders works in Ethiopia

A current project of Plumbers Without Borders involves working with Seattle Anesthesia Outreach (SAO) to implement plumbing infrasture improvements in medical facilities located in Ethiopia. The PWB volunteers helped to outfit a portable dialysis center for the Black Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where needless numbers of people were dying due to lack of dialysis treatment. PWB provided the installation labor for the portable unit built here in the U.S. After the portable clinic was shipped to Ethiopia, PWB volunteers handled the on-site implementation work to get this life-saving equipment up and running. The volunteer plumbers have also done extensive work in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake that hit that nation.

Here in the United States, PWB’s skills are utilized, as well. The organization has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to assist with home building needs throughout the country. The group also works to maintain the plumbing systems on a volunteer basis in the Children’s Home Society of Florida, an organization that rescues abused children and works to break the cycle of child abuse.