Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Pluimer.
Hi Lindsey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Orange County and was an All-American basketball player at UCLA. I studied Communications and was inspired by a class discussion and paper I wrote. I pledged to visit Africa and work to address inequality there. When I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa, she recognized the immense lack of basic human rights but also saw, first hand, the resilience and hope in the communities I visited.
I was motivated to take action. I returned to the states, retired from professional basketball and founded With My Own Two Hands Foundation in 2011 with the commitment to provide children with the basic human rights of water, food and access to education.
We just celebrated our 10th year anniversary this year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was 24 at the time I started With My Own Two Hands Foundation. I had no clue had to run an organization at the time. No experience. No resume other than my degree and playing basketball. When I returned home from my trip to South Africa, I didn’t care if I raised $5,000 or $5 million. I just wanted to do something that would help the communities I visited. Starting With My Own Two Hands Foundation was my “something.” I then surrounded myself with mentors and basically learned along the way. I’m so grateful for the journey that I’ve been on with this organization this last decade. It has given me so much hope and inspiration. And to the supporters who make our work possible – thank you!
It is also always a challenge being an international organization and being able to communicate the need, impact and hope abroad. We can’t bring our supporters to our site without traveling over 20 hours on a plane. So we now use the medium of film and documentaries to transport our supporters to Africa. Every year we make a documentary that showcases a community beneficiary that shows the need for clean water/sustainable agriculture while also showing the transformation and hope that given through these projects.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are a nonprofit based in Laguna Beach, CA that works to create a more equitable world through water and agriculture.
Without access to clean water and healthy food, cycles of systematic poverty and gender inequality continue. We work to change this and ensure the most basic human rights are met for all people. We believe that every person on this planet has a fundamental right to clean water and nutritious foods.
Our mission is to address systemic poverty and gender inequality by eliminating the financial and time burden of sourcing clean water.
We pride ourselves on our approach of being Holistic, Community-based, Sustainable and Impact-driven. We believe sustainable projects that thrive are locally-led. We trust our in-country experts to listen to local needs, design and implement solutions and measure impact. Ultimately, building capacity to sustain projects long-term.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have an amazing team that is committed to our work and mission. I’m grateful for the work they do day in and day out to further our mission.
On a personal level, I would thank my Professor at UCLA, Professor Von Blum, for inspiring these conversations in his courses and sparking something in me to take that trip to Africa…one that forever changed my life.
I’m also grateful for my husband, Anthony Katz, for always encouraging me to travel and see the world. Despite getting married at 22, and then playing overseas nine months out of the year, I left for Africa in my 3-month offseason.
Pricing:
- $15,000 provides a deep-drill borehole
- $3,650 provides a greenhouse
- $2,500 provides outdoor small scale farm
- $1,500 provides WASH programming
- $30 gives one person clean water
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.withmyown2hands.org
- Instagram: withmyown2hands
- Facebook: withmyown2hands
- Twitter: withmyown2hands
