Amid Bribery Scandal, Wal-Mart Contest Attracts Christians
This month, the bottled-water company Humankind Water beat out over 4,000 other products to reach the "top ten" in an American Idol-style contest run by Wal-Mart called Get on the Shelf. The contest pitted start-up companies and entrepreneurs against each other, as voters submitted a million votes in total to tell Wal-Mart which product they would like to see, as the title suggests, on the shelf of their local superstore.
Now, the top 10 products are competing against each other again, in a second round of voting that ended yesterday. The top three finalists will be carried on walmart.com, and the overall winner will also "get on the shelf" in select Wal-Mart stores.
Get on the Shelf is the first contest of its kind by a major retailer, according to The Wall Street Journal's Market Watch. It's also an opportunity, says Humankind Water founder T. J. Foltz, to help right one of the major wrongs in our world: the lack of clean drinking water.
We've seen the statistics so many times we've almost become immune, Foltz says. Some 10,000 children die every day from a lack of clean drinking water. Sitting on his couch one morning two years ago, praying, Foltz says he came up with an idea: launch a bottled-water company that gives 100 percent of its net profits toward clean water efforts around the globe.
Foltz's background isn't in business or marketing. "I've spent most of my adult life in youth ministry," Foltz says, although he's also worked for Scripture Union and the philanthropic adviser Geneva Global. And Foltz did not set out to make Humankind Water overtly Christian.
"We very intentionally did not put crosses and hallelujahs all over the bottle, because we wanted anybody with a heart for philanthropy to buy our water," Foltz notes. "At the same time, however, anybody who Googles 'T. J. Foltz' will find a youth speaker."
"There are areas of the world where people are literally dying for a drink," Foltz says. Meanwhile, the bottled water business is a multibillion-dollar industry—if some of those billions of dollars of profit could be moved to support clean water for those who don't have it, "we could virtually eliminate the clean-water crisis."
Clean water efforts ranked number 1 out of the 10 most cost-effective aid strategies, according to Christianity Today's February cover story. And Humankind Water is partnering with water relief organizations whose track record is already proven: Water Missions International, Ethiopian Rainwater Harvesting Association, Ugandan Water Project, Living Water International, and Blood:Water Mission.
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Doreen Ashley
While I don't buy bottled water or shop at Wal-Mart, a lot of people do both. I don't think they are going to stop any time soon. If their Wal-Mart bottled water purchases could help bring clean water to people elsewhere who need it, I think that is a good thing.
Lyndsey
Informative article. Thank you.
OOOPS TJ
Interesting that you would use a scandal story to promote a company that is misstating fact to win a contest. This may be the biggest mistake of TJ Foltz's Life could be the end of his career as a preacher. You need to tell the truth, and not say things that aren't true....even if you plan to do them in the future. no 501c3 filed, paperwork not filed with the state of Pennsylvania. This information was verified a week ago, they may have done it now, but not when they originally had it on their website. Reporters should really do their job before posting stories. I have supported organizations in the past that drill water wells in undeveloped countries, they survive on DONATIONS not sales of Bottled Water at Walmart, they don't claim to be award winning water bottling companies etc. They do it for their love of Humanity and GOD!
MVG
Elrena, Thanks for bringing this information before us. I was not aware of the contest or Humankind Water. I deeply care for the environment, don't love Wal-mart's practices, but am glad that T.J. Foltz is trying to do justice and love kindness and walk humbly with God. He is trying to help others. Maybe he'll find even better way. He should be commended and supported even if we walk into Walmart and only buy Humankind Water.
Steven Klein
As a fellow humanitarian, I support the efforts of Humankind Water, and wish them the best. I also entered a humanitarian based product in the Walmart contest, but unfortunately my entry is not a finalist. The Eco-Connect Bottle System is a simple patented technology that will reduce the amount of plastic water bottles in landfills. Instead of winding up in landfills, empty plastic water bottles featuring this simple patented technology would be repurposed and begin a new journey as creative educational toys, or as building insulation in third world countries,or countries that need to rebuild due to a national disaster. If water bottles featuring this technology were donated to Haiti, the children could build simple toys and soccer goals from the empties. Then the empties could be utilized as building insulation to help rebuild the nation. Right now, the millions of water bottles that were donated to Haiti are just clogging up their landfills. Like Humankind Water, its a very simple idea with a very big vision.
Jeff Penn
It's disheartening when Americans, with some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, look down their noses at the "environmentally irresponsible" plastic bottle. The plastic bottle is responsible for keeping the humans alive in places where the water will kill you. Environmentally irresponsible is the need to drink bottled water in a country with water that is virtually pristine.
SANDY HANEY
Is it really such a race issue to want to provide clean water for people? I missed the race aspect of this article that Anna and Jessica seemed to find.... I was under the impression this was about helping anyone who needs clean water. I do appreciate those who pointed out the frustration of creating more bottled water--something that doesn't help the environment. We don't do bottled water at our house. At the same time, I know people who only drink bottled water, and they don't plan to change anytime soon, if ever: wouldn't it be great if, while they harm the environment through their bottled water habits (again, since they plan to do that no matter what), they at least send their pennies to helping those who need clean water?
SANDY HANEY
Is it really such a race issue to want to provide clean water for people? I missed the race aspect of this article that Anna and Jessica seemed to find.... I was under the impression this was about helping anyone who needs clean water. I do appreciate those who pointed out the frustration of creating more bottled water--something that doesn't help the environment. We don't do bottled water at our house. At the same time, I know people who only drink bottled water, and they don't plan to change anytime soon, if ever: wouldn't it be great if, while they harm the environment through their bottled water habits (again, since they plan to do that no matter what), they at least send their pennies to helping those who need clean water?
Adam Shields
Net profits for this probably won't be much more than $0.05 anyway.
Anna Renee
Are we going for this yet again? We need Walmart? The guy says it himself, Wal-Mart has a bit of a reputation for being ruthless, So we as the hens will go to the fox for help? Again? Did we not just experience KONY2012 about two months ago? White people, when will you stop allowing yourselves to be manipulated in this way? If you truly care so much for suffering black people, then befriend a black family in your area. Fight for a cause in your town. Fight poverty in your state. Many other white people have discovered the key to peace of mind. To overcoming guilt. Just help where you are. It will bring you out of black fear and into your full humanity once again. Black people are not the boogie man the way they keep telling you we are. These manipulators are simply breaking you down. Its Satan's work. But whatever you do, stop allowing these race baiters to keep manipulating your deeply conflicted emotions about black people and black suffering. You must get involved with real people. Many white folks are doing it well. Connect with black people. Relate. Learn. It's what Jesus said we must do to enter the Kingdom.
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