PRIORITIES AND APPROACH

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is the captain of the NFLWaterboys. Now in his third year of serving on the Waterboys team, Myles is leading the roster of active NFL Waterboys in the mission of bringing water to one million people.

“I am thrilled to be the Waterboys NFL captain and continue my work in ensuring that people have access to safe water. This is my third year involved with the program and I can’t wait to work with my peers around the league, along with fans, to grow Waterboys and build on the momentum that Chris has generated around this important cause.”

Award-winning journalist Mina Kimes is an NFL analyst, senior writer, podcast host and television contributor for ESPN. Since joining ESPN The Magazine in 2014, her profile has grown steadily across the company’s multimedia platforms, spanning digital and print, television, radio and podcasting.

In June 2020, Kimes was named an NFL analyst, joining ESPN’s daily news and information show, NFL Live. She also offers football analysis on Get Up, SportsCenter, First Take and more, in addition to being a regular contributor to Around the Horn, Highly Questionable and The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz.

Kimes has been at the forefront of ESPN’s podcasting efforts. She hosts The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny football podcast and launched the ESPN Daily podcast in October 2019. The original host of ESPN Daily, Kimes remains a contributor in the NFL offseason.

An acclaimed writer, Kimes has written many memorable features for ESPN. She penned the first ESPN Cover Story in October 2019 – the incredible survival story of NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and his mother – when ESPN The Magazine transitioned to a new digital format. Her many notable ESPN The Magazine cover stories included profiles of NFL players like Von Miller, Antonio Brown, Baker Mayfield and Aaron Rodgers, and she secured an exclusive interview with Myles Garrett in 2020 when he discussed for the first time the on-field brawl that led to his NFL suspension. Kimes has also travelled extensively for high-profile stories on esports, NBA Draft prospect Luka Doncic, and Korean bat flips.

Previously, Kimes co-hosted ESPN Radio’s The Morning Roast national weekend show with Domonique Foxworth and Clinton Yates, which the trio launched together in January 2017. She has also contributed to special ESPN live Twitter shows, including On the Clock during the 2018 NFL Draft.

Prior to ESPN, Kimes was an investigative reporter for Bloomberg News (2013) and a business writer for Fortune Magazine (2007-13), where she penned pieces on topics from arms exports to tainted drugs.

A two-time finalist for the Dan Jenkins Medal for Excellence in Sportswriting, Kimes received a National Headliner Award first place honor in 2019 for magazine feature writing. Kimes has also earned numerous awards for business and investigative journalism. She was the inaugural recipient of the SABEW’s (Society of American Business Editors and Writers) Larry Birger Young Business Journalist prize, honoring journalists under age 30. Other organizations that have recognized her work include the New York Press Club, the National Press Club, and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

Kimes graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a bachelor of arts in English.

In addition to her work with ESPN, Kimes has been an NFL analyst for local television broadcasts of Los Angeles Rams preseason games since 2018.

Julie Johnson Ertz is a current US Women’s National Team and Chicago Red Stars Defender. She won the U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year twice, which she did in 2017 and 2019, and competed on the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup teams.

Joyce Ekworomadu is a Nigerian-American born August 6, 1986 in Edmond, Oklahoma and raised in Dallas, TX. She attended Texas State University where she averaged 18.9pts/gm, was Southland Conference Player of the Year, led the team to the school’s first ever Conference championship, became the 5th player in Texas state history to record over 1500 points and 600 rebounds, voted on the all-Decade team, ESPN CoSIDA All-academic team, 3rd Place – ESPN 3PT Shootout (2008), was Nominated for Female athlete of the year and graduated with a BBA in Marketing. Post college, she played in the WNBA (San Antonio Silverstars), Poland, Italy and is a current member of the National Nigerian Basketball Team. She has traveled to over 40 countries playing the game of basketball.

Joyce is the 12th female of the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters. She has appeared on many news and media outlets around the world. She was featured on the Jimmy Fallon show, Nickelodeon’s “Mutt ‘N Stuff”, The Queen Latifah Show, The Rachael Ray Show, ET Canada and many more. In the offseason, she trains youth in the fundamental skills of basketball throughout the nation with her company, BALLFX which stands for “Basketball Affects Lives.” She was the 2019 Jr.NBA coach of the Year nominee as well as led an 8th grade girls team to an undefeated season going on to win a City Championship. She teaches and coaches young girls leadership skills at an all girls school and is also a motivational speaker who is partnered with the WNBA Dallas Wings. She has spoken to over 50,000 kids on the topics of bullying prevention, character building, the importance of exercise, embracing adversity and female empowerment all over the country.

Olayinka is a retired WNBA player from Chicago, IL. She played for the Detroit Shock, where she won a championship, and the Phoenix Mercury. She also played for the Nigerian National Team. After retiring, she founded Picnics in the Chi, a luxury picnic service based in Chicago.

Ben Garland is currently an OL for the San Francisco 49ers, after previously playing for the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons. Ben, a native of Grand Junction, Colorado, played for the Air Force Falcons from 2006-2009, before being signed by the Denver Broncos in 2010. He was placed on the Broncos’ military reserve list to serve his two-year military commitment, which he did at Scott Air Force Base from 2010-12. Ben made his NFL debut with the Broncos in 2014, before signing with the Falcons in 2015. In 2017, Ben played in his first Super Bowl with the Falcons and was also named the Falcons’ Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. In 2018, Ben was awarded the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, honoring his efforts of support to former and present members of the military.

Ben signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. He also still serves with the Colorado Air National Guard as a Public Affairs Officer, currently holding the rank of Captain and fulfilling his military obligations during each NFL offseason.

Bingham is an investment executive and entrepreneur, as well as an author and philanthropist. He is the Managing Partner at Jamison Retirement, LLC, a Charlottesville-based advisory firm that helps clients navigate the challenges and opportunities inherent to building a sustainable and fulfilling post-career lifestyle. Beyond just creating and implementing quantitative financial plans designed to protect families from outliving their assets, Jamison Retirement likewise arms its clients with personal strategies that demystify the retirement experience, provide confidence and peace of mind, and reaffirm an enduring sense of purpose. Bingham is also a Contributor for Forbes Investing and Seeking Alpha, and an Angel Investor with the Charlottesville Angel Network.

Compelled to serve in the wake of 9/11, Bingham joined the Marine Corps. In 2003, he represented Team USA for the International Military Pentathlon in Europe. Following his training as a Counterintelligence Officer, Bingham commanded Human Intelligence Exploitation Teams (HETs) during combat operations in Al Qaim and Fallujah, Iraq. After the Marines, he participated in the U.S. Intelligence Community’s global efforts to disrupt terrorism financing. Bingham speaks and writes about his wartime experience – he has been an invited speaker at venues across central Virginia and Georgia, and has published over two-dozen articles as a Contributor for TIME Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Daily Progress, and elsewhere. He is currently drafting his first book, a memoir that explores his redemptive journey from hunting Al Qaeda leadership on the battlefields in western Al Anbar Province, Iraq, to overcoming war’s aftermath on the home front.

Bingham is a Co-Founder and Chairman of Warrior Healing Campaign, and serves on the board of the Richmond Fisher House Foundation. A native of Atlanta, Bingham graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, and remains a regular fixture (alongside his two orange-clad children) at most Wahoo sporting events.

Betsy Brandon is currently a professional soccer player for Ferencvárosi Torna Club in Budapest, Hungary. Out of college she was drafted to the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League and played there for a year and half. She had the wonderful opportunity to study Speech Communication Disorders and Spanish at the University of Virginia while she also played on the Women’s Soccer Team.

Last year she joined a new female athlete mentorship platform called Voice In Sport (VIS). Their goal as collegiate and professional athlete mentors is to inspire and support young girls in their journey in sport. As a part of VIS, she leads monthly mentorship sessions on topics personal to her journey, such as mental health, sport-life balance, and nutrition and recovery tips. If she can help just one girl better navigate her journey in sport and subsequently help her achieve her goals, then it will be worth it!

Brianna Westrup was born and raised in Southern California. She played multiple sports growing up, but ultimately decided to seriously dedicate her time to soccer. She was recruited to the University of Virginia, where she played on their Women’s Soccer Team for four years. Upon graduating, she was given the opportunity to continue her soccer career professionally in Denmark and lived in Copenhagen for four months.

She then moved to Newcastle (England) for a year, where she studied for a Master’s degree and played soccer (or football as it’s called there) for Newcastle United Women. After her time in Newcastle, she was able to secure a move to Glasgow, Scotland where she now plays for Rangers F.C. Women. Besides playing the game she loves, her favorite thing about soccer is how it has brought her new friendships and different perspectives.

Through traveling and experiencing a variety of cultures, her eyes have been opened to just how small “her world” can be. Her hope is by engaging with the Water4Her Initiative, she can actively affect positive change through bringing awareness to this cause and helping women and girls across the globe engage in education and skill development that will positively impact their lives.

Brittany Ammerman played ice hockey for the University of Wisconsin Badgers from 2010-2015. In her time as an elite hockey player, Brittany won a National Championship in 2011, competed in four NCAA Frozen Four tournaments (’11, ’12, ’14, ’15), competed in two National Championship games, was nominated as a 2014 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Finalist awarded to the best women’s hockey player in Division I collegiate hockey, finished top 15 on the all-time goal-scoring list and all-time points list in Wisconsin history. She also captained the 2010 U18 USA National team, winning gold at World Championships in 2009 and silver in 2010. She was a member of the USA National Team Player Pool from 2010-2014. In 2015, Brittany was awarded the 2015 Hockey Humanitarian Award for her efforts in women’s health and women’s sports in Kenya.

Brittany founded the Nikumbuke Soccer League, a nonprofit organization that provides women and girls in rural Kenya the opportunity to participate in sport and receive an education through the implementation of health initiatives. Since its founding in 2013, the Nikumbuke Soccer League has grown from two participating village teams to 13 village teams, has supported over 1,000 women in rural Kenya in their well-being and education endeavors, has received support from the U.S. Embassy for its efforts, and most recently published research demonstrating the positive effect sport has on women’s experiences with interpersonal violence and sport’s effects on physical well-being.

Brittany completed a Masters Degree in Biomedical Sciences from Rutgers University in 2017. Currently, she is a rising fourth year medical student at Penn State College of Medicine, with plans to pursue a career in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Calder Kegley grew up on a farm in rural Southwestern Virginia where he learned about conservation and sustainability from a young age. His father was (and still is) the director of a nonprofit by day, and then comes home to manage the family farm every evening. As a 4th generation farmer, his father took it upon himself to improve the agricultural practices by closing the natural watersheds to livestock, and by implementing a rotational grazing practice to ensure that the soil would be fertile and healthy for his grass-fed beef without the use of fertilizers or chemicals. He spent what free time he had taking Calder into the woods on hiking and camping trips.

After a road trip out west before his senior year of high school, Calder made up his mind to attend The University of Montana and pursue a degree in Forestry and Conservation. Spending most of his time in the surrounding wilderness and being known to have higher attendance in Glacier National Park than in a classroom, Calder graduated in 2008 with that B.S. in Forestry. Just prior to graduation, he helped organize a fundraiser to climb Mt. Rainier in Washington state, with all funds going to an organization researching climate change in Seattle.

In 2009, Calder moved back to Virginia where he settled in Charlottesville with his wife Megan. Getting back to his roots, he started managing farms in the area. He helped them make their mark on the local food scene by instilling and overseeing conservative and sustainable practices that improve the welfare of the animals, as well as the health of the ecosystems in which they were raised. In 2018, he became a small-business owner, acquiring a local butcher shop that specializes in whole-animal butchery. Between managing large properties, operating a small business, and trying to keep up with his 5-year-old twin boys, Calder still needs his time in the mountains; whether on a mountain bike, or just his boots. He is excited to be a part of the 2022 Conquering Kili class, and to be learning more about the global water crisis through the philanthropic efforts of Waterboys.

Chad Brown is a 15-year National Football League veteran and former Colorado Buffaloes linebacker. Brown was drafted in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and went on to play 15 seasons with the Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Today, Brown is a successful entrepreneur. He not only owns four businesses in the pet industry, but he continues to be involved with the football industry via the NFLPA and as a broadcaster for both professional and college games. Chad and his wife, Kristin, have two children, Amani (18) and Aram (15). They make their home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Zoe Morse is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Morse has represented the United States on the under-17, under-18, and under-20 national teams. She played collegiate soccer at the University of Virginia.

WHY Hometown H2O
Over 2,000,000 people in the United States lack access to clean water.
Water access is a social justice issue. American Indian households are 19 times more likely to lack indoor plumbing than the average household and African Americans are 2 times more likely.
17% of people in rural areas have issues with their drinking water safety.
More than 44 million Americans are served by water systems that violate the safe drinking water act.

Colin Anderson signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Later that season, he was picked up by the New York Jets and played until an injury sidelined him in 2015. Moving back to Dallas, Colin joined the Adaptive Training Foundation(ATF) after volunteering as a trainer. Eager to rejoin a team, he used his experience working in the ad industry to build long lasting partnerships and increase the awareness of ATF. Colin currently works as the Marketing and Communications Director to expand the mission of ATF to those 40+ million Americans living with a physical disability. He is also a part of the leadership team and leads the programs ATF delivers to our wounded veterans.

Outside linebacker Connor Barwin played nine years in the NFL playing with the Houston Texans (2009-2012), Philadelphia Eagles (2013-2016) Los Angeles Rams (2017) and the New York Giants (2018).

He began his athletic career as a dual-sport athlete at the University of Cincinnati, playing basketball and football. By his senior year, football was the clear favorite and Barwin earned a First-team All-Big East honors and honorable mention All-America, as well as the Claude Rost Award, given to the team’s Most Valuable Player. After college, Barwin was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round, with the 46th overall pick, of the 2009 NFL Draft. Barwin went on the play for the Eagles from 2013 to 2016, and was elected to the 2015 Pro Bowl. In 2017, Barwin signed with the Los Angeles Rams as a free agent.

Barwin started his own Foundation in 2013 named Make The World Better with the mission to improve communities one park, one neighborhood at a time. Barwin also served as a Waterboy, representing his team in bringing clean water to communities in need.

Barwin and his wife, Laura, welcomed the birth of their first son in 2018.

Retired NFL Linebacker David Vobora specializes in human performance training that inspires and motivates his clients to higher levels of achievement and fulfillment of others.

As the founder of the non-profit Adaptive Training Foundation, David works with athletes of all types of professional, Olympic, collegiate, tactical forces, and especially those with severe disabilities, including military veterans as well as victims of catastrophic injuries and illnesses. David’s groundbreaking work building physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual strength in physically disabled clients at the Adaptive Training Foundation earned him recognition in 2016 in Upstanders, an award-winning mini-documentary series produces by Starbucks that honors ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their communities.

David’s work at the Adaptive Training Foundation has attracted national and international media attention. He now works with some of the country’s most well-known corporations as a keynote speaker, including Starbucks, Lockheed Martin, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, and TEDx. David lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters.

DavidVobora.com
adaptivetrainingfoundation.org

Heather Mitts Feeley is a former professional women’s soccer player. She played in the Women’s Professional Soccer league for 13 years, as well as on the US Women’s National Team, with whom she won 3 Olympic gold medals.

Quarterback Vince Young played six seasons in the NFL after an accomplished college career at the University of Texas. In his All-American 2005 season, Young led the Longhorns to an 11 to 0 regular-season record, a Big 12 Championship, and a historic Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans. Given his Rose Bowl MVP honor, his 30 to 2 record as a Longhorn, and his passing completion percentage, the University of Texas retired Youngs #10 jersey in 2008. After college, Young was drafted as the 3rd overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Young was also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Since retiring from the NFL in 2014, Young has gone on to work for his alma mater, the University of Texas, and pursue his interests in philanthropy and real estate.

Mike Golic, Jr. is co-host of Golic and Wingo on ESPN radio, as well as a college football analyst for ESPN. The former offensive lineman at the University of Notre Dame from 2008-2012 was also an Academic All-American and a member of the AllState AFCA GoodWorks team in 2012.

Haloti Ngata is an American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Oregon and earned consensus All-American honors. Ngata was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft, played for the Ravens for nine seasons, and helped the team to victory in Super Bowl XLVII. In 2015, Ngata was traded to the Detroit Lions and played there for three seasons before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. Over the course of his career, Ngata has been selected for the Pro Bowl five times. He currently lives in Maryland with his wife Christina and their three sons.

Kristen is a professional soccer player for the OL Reign in Seattle, WA. She has also represented the United States on the under-18 and under-23 national teams.

Jason Kelce is a center in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelce had a notable football career at Cincinnati where, in his senior season, he was named Honorable Mention All-American and second team All-Big East. Despite lacking “true NFL size”, Kelce was projected a fourth to fifth round pick. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash time of all offensive linemen at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, with a 4.89-second time. Kelce was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. During his time as an Eagle, Kelce has earned Super Bowl championship (LII), been named to the Pro Bowl twice (2014, 2016), and been named to the First-team All Pro (2017, 2018).

For more than a decade as one of the NFL’s premier running backs, Steven Jackson has been known for his unsurpassed drive to succeed, his leadership and his dedication to his team and community. Jackson was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2004 NFL Draft, holds the Rams franchise record for most rushing yards, and is a member of the 10,000-yard rushing club. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots before retiring in 2015.

When his playing days ended, Jackson embraced his calling to be an entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist. He pioneered and produced some of the most forward-thinking, football-based series on the internet. He cultivated his own interest in art, which culminated in his own art show at one of Los Angeles’s most prestigious galleries in the summer of 2014. In addition, Steven worked in guest roles as an on-air commentator and analyst for ESPN, NFL Network and others.

An avid traveler, Steven has visited a vast number of countries, documenting his journeys through his own photography. He studied architecture while at Oregon State University, and remains actively interested in the subject.

Steven lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, the city where he was born and raised.

Mark Pattison is a 5-year National Football League veteran and former Washington Huskies wide receiver. During his career, Mark played for the Los Angeles Raiders, the Los Angeles Rams, and the New Orleans Saints. For the last 10 years, Mark has worked in digital media and today is the CEO of NFL2SevenSummits.com, where he is working toward becoming the first NFL player to climb the Seven Summits. To date, Mark has climbed 4 of the 7 peaks with Denali, Vinson, and Mt. Everest left on his list.

Jim Mora is the former head football coach of the UCLA Bruins. During his six seasons, the team had a 46-30 record. Mora, a former NFC Coach of the Year, came to UCLA after spending part of 2010 and most of 2011 as an analyst and contributor for the NFL Network and the NFL on FOX. He brought 25 years of NFL coaching acumen with him to UCLA, including four years of NFL head coaching experience while at the helm of the Atlanta Falcons (2004-06) and the Seattle Seahawks (2009). Mora’s football career started at the University of Washington, where he walked-on and was a reserve defensive back/linebacker for the Huskies from 1980 to 1983, and landed his first coaching at the school in 1984. Jim has four children and lives in Los Angeles.

Mark and Jim are also long time best friends and are looking forward to making the climb together and teaming up to support Veterans and communities in need together.

Rob Ninkovich is a former American football outside linebacker who played eleven seasons in National Football League (NFL). Ninkovich played college football at Purdue University before being selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 Draft. In 2007, Ninkovich moved on to the Miami Dolphins and then in 2009 found his way to the New England Patriots. Ninkovich played 8 seasons for the Patriots and played in three Super Bowls (XLVI, XLIX, and LI) during his tenure there. In 2017, Ninkovich announced his retirement and will be returning to the sidelines in 2018 as a sideline reporter for home games. Ninkovich currently lives in Boston with his wife Paige and their two children.

Makenzy Doniak plays professional soccer for the Chicago Red Stars. This is her sixth year in the NWSL. She graduated with a masters degree in Speech Pathology from The University of Virginia, and she is passionate about making a difference in children’s lives by helping them best express themselves.

She grew up in Chino Hills, California, and she has two older sisters who also played soccer at the collegiate level. A fun fact about her is that she has played soccer abroad in both Australia and Denmark.

Nick Hardwick is an 11-year National Football League veteran and former center for the Purdue Boilermakers. During a career in San Diego, Hardwick was considered one of the most popular Chargers in team history and widely revered as the cornerstone of one of the team’s most productive offensive lines that forged the way for such Pro Bowl players as LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers. Today, Hardwick works on the media side of the sports industry. His current positions include Field Reporter for San Diego Chargers Radio Broadcast; local TV Sportscaster on Fox 5 San Diego; weekly radio contributor on three iHeart Radio stations; and host of “Behind the Bolt with Nick Hardwick” on Fox Sports San Diego and the Chargers website. Nick lives in San Diego with his wife Jayme, and their two boys, Hudson (4) and Ted (2).

Lamarr Houston is an American football outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas where he started as a defensive end but switched to defensive tackle as a junior. Houston was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round (44th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft, and started his rookie year at the left defensive end position. After four years with the Raiders, Houston moved on to play with the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans.

Laurel Ivory is a senior at the University of Virginia. She is a goalkeeper for the UVA Women’s Soccer Team and has been playing soccer for as long as she can remember. She grew up in Miami, FL but is really a New England girl at heart, where her family now lives. She has traveled the world and experienced some pretty surreal places while playing soccer, which has instilled in her a desire to create an impact on something much greater than herself and her sport. She is currently a Women and Gender Studies Major with the hope that one day she can translate what she’s studying towards enhancing the opportunities for not only women in sports but women in general – which is why she’s so excited to be apart of Water4Her. At the end of this year, she hopes to embark on playing professionally and see more of the world with a ball at her feet.