PHILADELPHIA—Hersha Hotels and Resorts announced that EarthView, their corporate social responsibility platform, will be providing support to the Waterboys program—the hallmark initiative of the Chris Long Foundation. Hersha will donate $1 from the sale of each EarthView water bottle that is purchased at their hotels towards the funding of wells in East Africa.
Launched in 2015 by Philadelphia Eagles’ Chris Long, Waterboys unites NFL players from across the league in service. The charity provides underserved rural communities in emerging economies with clean, safe and sustainable water per well by drilling wells serving up to 7,500 people at a cost of $45,000, which comes out to just $6 per person. Six dollars (or six bottles of EarthView water) can save a life, send a child to school, and save countless hours spent retrieving water.
In February of 2018, Waterboys achieved their initial goal of funding 32 wells to represent the 32 NFL teams. EarthView will fund a new well each year to help Waterboys realize its goal—to provide over one million people in need with water.
“Waterboys is founded on the principle that by working as a team of players, fans and corporate supporters, we can help eradicate water scarcity and make a meaningful impact for communities in desperate need,” says Chris Long. “We are thrilled with the addition of Hersha Hotels and Resorts to the Waterboys team and the launching of an impactful program at hotel properties nationwide.”
‘Triple Bottom Line’ Approach
Hersha embraces environmental and community stewardship as an integral part of maintaining and building a successful business. To best put this mission into practice, in 2010 it conceptualized and developed its proprietary corporate social responsibility program called EarthView, encompassing a “triple bottom line” approach to sustainability and became a leader in green hospitality.
“Hersha’s EarthView program shares our same commitment to bettering the world through protecting our natural resources and the undeniable right of individuals to have access to safe, clean water,” continued Long. “This program not only fulfills our mission of raising critical funds, but it also fulfills the important task of raising awareness about the clean water crisis which will ultimately create engaged supporters and result in faster solutions for communities.”
The EarthView program delivers environmental and conservation programs that positively impact a hotel’s bottom line while simultaneously improving the wellbeing of their guests, employees, communities and the planet.
“EarthView and Waterboys together will be able to better thousands of lives,” said Jay H. Shah, Hersha’s CEO. “We are delighted to have Waterboys as a part of the Hersha family. Their mission is perfectly aligned with our EarthView program and we are pleased to work with Chris and Waterboys in support of such an impactful and meaningful cause.”
