The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) honored two of its most exceptional and valued supporters with a special IWSH Award at IAPMO’s 90th annual Education and Business Conference and 2019 ASSE International Annual Meeting this September. 

Courtenay Eichhorst, business manager at UA Local Union No. 412 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was recognized for his dedicated support toward the development of the first U.S. Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) program, a collaboration with the DigDeep Navajo Water Project at various sites across the Navajo Nation, since October 2018. Eichhorst has organized and facilitated the participation of more than 10 volunteers from UA Local 412 in the Navajo program so far, and is committed to continuing this partnership for future CPC projects.

“The whole IWSH program is phenomenal,” Eichhorst said. “When you’re out there helping these folks it’s helping your grandma. I mean, it’s helping your mom; it’s not a big deal. So thank you so much for all that you’ve done; I’m glad I was there to help.”

Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 400, a local union consisting of about 2,000 members serving 18 counties in Northeast Wisconsin, also received an IWSH Award. UA 400 has been a consistent CPC supporter and sponsor since the inception of the program in 2015 and has been represented in all international projects over the past five years, including events in India, South Africa, Indonesia, and the United States.

Accepting the award on behalf of UA 400, retiring Business Manager Jeff Knaus said, “Thank you everyone who volunteers your efforts throughout the world. I’m a huge proponent of this organization and what you’re trying to do to change lives, and that’s the way I promote it to our membership. We are all in on this. I didn’t win this; obviously it’s given to Local 400 and their membership for their support.”

Speaking after the two presentations, IWSH Chair Dan Daniels reiterated, “The IWSH Foundation would not be here, and could not continue to do the work it does, without the generous donations and contributions from our supporters across the international WASH sector. Today, we wanted to take a moment to highlight two exemplars, who we feel have gone above and beyond the call of duty in terms of helping IWSH progress toward our goals over the past 12 months. We are delighted to honor Mr. Courtenay Eichhorst – and all of the volunteers who have connected with our projects from UA Local 412, in Albuquerque – plus, Mr. Jeff Knaus, on behalf of UA Local 400, from Wisconsin; a partner organization that has stood proudly with us from the very beginning of this mission.

“We wanted to take this opportunity to say a special thank-you to both representatives, while we are assembled here together with our friends and colleagues from the across IAPMO membership,” Daniels added. “We hope that by continuing to build and expand our relationships with all parties into the future, will continue to set benchmarks that can inspire other supporters and partners to join the IWSH cause. Finally, we intend to make presentation of these IWSH Awards an annual feature, that will recognize other exceptional individuals and organizations in the years ahead.”