Join me in the fight for clean water for all.

Although my giving page is no longer active, you can still donate. If you would like to provide any additional support, please do so here.

Welcome! My name is Holly Piper, and I am a senior at The Ohio State University. I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration specializing in Marketing with minors in Organization & Performance Psychology and Nonprofit Studies. In addition to the rigorous curriculum within Fisher College of Business, I am lucky to be involved with numerous student organizations around campus. I am currently a Peer Career Coach through the Office of Career Management, as well as a member of Student-Alumni Council, Chi Omega Sorority and Cru Ministries. After graduation I will be working full-time for Discover Financial Services in their business rotational program in Chicago. Outside of all things education and career-related, I love tennis, racquetball, photography, traveling and a good cup of coffee. 

Being a member of Ohio State’s Homecoming Court has given me time to reflect on the experiences I’ve had over the past three years, many of which have shaped me into the person I am today. I think back to my freshman self in Smith-Steeb residence hall, nervous about the future: what clubs to join, what people to be friends with, what I could do to avoid the notorious freshman-15. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I decided to join a student organization that would reconstruct my perspective towards global initiatives. Face the Children at Ohio State is a branch organization of a larger nonprofit in the Philippines whose mission is to give abandoned and neglected children a ‘second chance at life’ through full time care, education and other necessary resources. After traveling to the Philippines three times through Face the Children, I felt lucky as I was welcomed each time into a culture of openness, hospitality and joy. But I also became acutely aware of the degree of poverty that exists; seeing children wade through dirty water to find bottles to repurpose and resell, and then seeing hospitalized children sick from drinking that same dirty water shifts your thinking in a way that no other experience really can. That’s why when I stumbled upon the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Service Learning Project, I knew I wanted it to be my cause of choice to support this year for Homecoming Court.

This fund lies within Ohio State’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering and supports a service learning student abroad program in Marwa, Tanzania. The nearest source of water for the people of Marwa is miles away, and many women and children spend each day traveling to the Pangani River, only to find water that is contaminated with bacteria and disease. A lack of water means it is difficult to focus energy elsewhere, like to obtain an education or earn an income. Over the past few years, Ohio State students have constructed rainwater harvesting systems to serve the immediate need of clean water, but a long-term solution is the sought-after next step in this project. By supporting this fund, your donation will contribute to the estimated $750,000 it will cost to build the gravity-powered treatment and distribution systems and the 23 miles of pipe needed to deliver clean water from the Pangani to the village.The ability to obtain clean water from a close location opens up doors of opportunity to ensure future success. I think back to my freshman self and recognize that my nerves were more anticipatory rather than fearful, I was never concerned that I wouldn’t be successful because of lack of basic needs. I think back to my time in the Philippines loving and learning from these kids and wishing there was some way I could help to ensure that they, too, would one day be able to dream about their future. I think about now, having the opportunity to support a cause that is changing the future of one community in Tanzania. Let this be a ripple effect.

It is truly an honor to serve on Ohio State’s Homecoming Court. I hope you will join me in the fight for clean water for all -- it could look like simply telling your neighbor, offering a financial contribution or sharing on social media to spread awareness. Thank you in advance for your consideration!