“We wanted to partner with 1,000 communities in sub-Saharan Africa, bringing clean water to the people in each community. It’s the most basic of needs. ... It’s the first counter-punch at poverty,” says Charlie Lowell of Jars of Clay, co-founder of Blood:Water Mission. As of this year, Blood:Water supporters have achieved their initial goal: digging 1,000 wells in sub-Saharan Africa. They’re celebrating with the Well:Done Celebration in Nashville this May.

The celebration comes on the heels of a Lent campaign called Forty Days of Water, in which supporters were encouraged to drink only water and apply the money saved to building wells in Uganda. Says lead singer Dan Haseltine, “Since 2005, people have seen how they can make an impact by using their cre- ativity to address this complex issue.”