The National Ground Water Research and Educational Foundation (NGWREF) has awarded two grants totaling $8,350 to help build fresh drinking water wells in Haiti.

The Red Cross estimates three million people were affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake. The Haitian government reported that an estimated 230,000 people died, 300,000 were injured, and 1,000,000 became homeless. One of the most immediate health threats from the earthquake was a major disruption of fresh drinking water supplies.

With the first grant, the NGWREF awarded $6,000 to the ClearBlue Project for the construction of potable water well systems in Haiti. "It is with great gratitude and appreciation that I accept the grant your organization has elected to present to ClearBlue Water Project," says Melanie Brooks of ClearBlue, an organization that evolved from the First Methodist Church of North America. "This will certainly go a long way in our mission to supply the displaced people of Haiti with clean safe water."

The second grant, $2,350, was made to Hands on the World Global Inc. for the construction of potable water well systems in Jeremie, Haiti.

Hands on the World Global was formed to provide the basic needs of water and food for the security of people in developing countries and those who suffer from the aftermath of conflict or disaster.