Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Greater Toledo Choice Award for Best Charitable Event for its innovative and impactful World Toilet Day Painted Toilets 2023 initiative. The award was accepted on behalf of Julie Williams, senior showroom sales specialist, and Maren Tregillis, showroom sales specialist, at the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Toledo Casino Night Annual Banquet on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. 

World Toilet Day, celebrated annually on Nov. 19, aims to raise awareness about the global sanitation crisis and inspire action towards achieving universal access to safe and sustainable sanitation. In line with this mission, Waterhouse organized a unique and engaging event that not only brought attention to the critical issue of sanitation but also showcased the community's creativity and commitment to making a difference.

The World Toilet Day Painted Toilets 2023 event invited local artists, schools, and community members to transform ordinary toilets into vibrant works of art. These creatively decorated toilets were then displayed at our showroom where the community could vote in-person or via Venmo @waterhousebks for $1 per vote. All proceeds raised are donated to Water.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the global water crisis through innovative solutions and access to safe water and sanitation, empowering communities to build a sustainable and water-secure future.

"We are truly honored to receive the Greater Toledo Choice Award for Best Charitable Event," said Amy Siders, Waterhouse Bath & Kitchen Studio’s showroom manager. "I love that a seemingly silly and inconsequential idea – painting toilets – has become the little project that could!  The outpouring of support that we have received from our vendors, our artists, our local schools, our customers, and our community has been overwhelming.   It’s humbling to think that the Waterhouse team has been able to bring national attention to this global issue, armed with only our imaginations, 25 donated toilets, and the generosity of our artists – with their time, their materials, and their talent.  I am already planning for Waterhouse World Toilet Day 2024 – it can’t come soon enough!”

The Greater Toledo Choice Awards, organized by the HBA of Greater Toledo, celebrate outstanding contributions to the community across various categories. Waterhouse's World Toilet Day Painted Toilets 2023 event stood out for its unique approach to advocacy and its ability to engage the community in a meaningful dialogue about sanitation and hygiene.