Joanne Young, standardbred owner and director/treasurer of her daughter Brittany’s 'A Spring of Hope' foundation, which builds wells and brings fresh water to some of the poorest parts of Africa, will receive this year’s January Davies Humanitarian Award from the U.S. Harness Writers

Association for the foundation’s outstanding work.

It was during a trip to South Africa during the summer of 2005 when Joanne and Brittany noticed horrible living conditions in the Limpopo area, including no running water – a 'luxury' most take for granted, but a crucial factor of sustenance absent the people in the area. Brittany, a high school freshman, was the driving force behind raising over $10,000 to help drill the first well for A Spring Of Hope. Brittany, Joanne and the rest of the directors and board then put into a place a network in Africa for identifying the places most needing well water, working with the locals, and, when money was raised, putting in a local well.

The project has grown over the years as it established itself and began to raise more donation money, and while drilling water wells is still A Spring Of Hope’s primary mission, its services also include sanitation, an obviously related service, and especially the growing of food, fruits and vegetables in gardens nearby the water supply, which helps nourish area students and is making serious inroads into the appalling number of school days missed because of various sicknesses.

Everyone associated with the organization will tell you that one of A Spring Of Hope’s most precious assets is the positive outlook of the African people, who are throwing off poverty by working towards the new beginnings that A Spring Of Hope’s very name implies.

Joanne Young, her family, and perhaps other directors will be in attendance at the Night of Stars Awards banquet on Sunday, February 27 when the Humanitarian Award is presented.

The dinner will be held at the Marriott North in Fort Lauderdale Florida. For dinner tickets and information about South Florida accommodations, contact Steve Wolf at [email protected].

(USHWA)