Top Twenty-Five of AMEX Members Project

I recently entered an idea called "Children's Safe Drinking Water" in the AMEX Members Project contest. This is an initiative sponsored by American Express where US card members can enter a project idea and compete to win up to $5 million. http://www.membersproject.com/home.action

There were more than 7,000 projects entered, so I was thrilled when I received the following email: "With the support of Cardmembers all around the country and the backing of our Advisory Panel judges like Wynton Marsalis, Jane Goodall, and Gabrielle Reece, your project has made the Top 50! This is big. There are only 49 other people on the planet who are this close to seeing their projects put into action. On July 3, we'll announce the Top 50 projects on membersproject.com. Then Cardmembers will begin to vote. So act now to get your project noticed."

It's pretty cool that Jane Goodall reviewed my project idea! She's always been one of my personal heroes.

And, I now I've just been notified that my entry has been chosen as one of the top 25 semi-finalists based on member voting. It ended up in third place in the last round! Voting by US American Express cardholders from now until July 22 will determine if the "Children's Safe Drinking Water" entry will move on to the final five. It would be great for it to reach the final five since AMEX will invest to raise awareness of the five finalists.

I prepared three new 1-minute videos reusing video from my previous trips for all three. You can view them by clicking on the video tab at http://www.membersproject.com/Health_Fitness/1250.

One video focuses on how PUR is used (add, stir, filter, rest, drink) and the other on what it does (kills bacteria and viruses, removes parasites and pollutants). The third describes the "Give Your Two Cents Worth" idea.

I've spoken with lots of people about the "Give Your Two Cents Worth" idea, and it seems to be a winner. Our partner PSI has revised their website along this line, so check that out as well. http://psi.org/csdw/

It's exciting, and wish me luck into the next round of the AMEX Members Project. Regardless of the outcome, I'm really pleased that thousands of people have voted for my project idea. But, it would be really great to see $5 million go toward providing safe drinking water in the developing world.