Adam Wainwright, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
For more than a decade, iconic former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright’s charity, Big League Impact, has been teaming up with Water Mission to bring safe water and hope to vulnerable communities around the world.
Wainwright’s longstanding commitment to Water Mission’s work grew out of a personal journey. He and his wife, Jenny, searched for the cause that God was leading them to support. After initially supporting various initiatives, they realized the most essential needs — food, shelter and safe water — resonated most. They were introduced to Water Mission through their financial advisor, and it soon became abundantly clear that the organization was a perfect fit for the Wainwrights. And as Adam and Jenny became more involved with the ministry, the partnership blossomed.
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In 2013, Adam traveled to Honduras to observe the impact of Water Mission’s safe water work. Wainwright witnessed hundreds of people lining the streets with signs and banners, welcoming them to the community. The residents expressed their gratitude for the safe water project from which they benefited. “Walking around and talking to people who had been feeling sick before and weren’t anymore — it was incredibly impactful,” Wainwright said of the trip.
Another moment that shaped his perspective came while visiting a remote area of Haiti. Wainwright pulled over by the side of a road that led to where the community was collecting its drinking water — a stream running across a busy street contaminated by motorcycles, animals and daily traffic.
“We saw a lady with a big jug come down and fill it up,” Wainwright said, “and I asked, ‘What’s she going to do with that water?’ They said, ‘Everything. Cook, clean, wash.'”
Wainwright’s heart broke for the people of that community, but hope was on the way. Just 50 feet away from that dirty stream, a Water Mission project now provides safe, sustainable water — a transformation Wainwright says “completely revolutionized that area.”
A Natural Partnership
Wainwright credits Water Mission’s excellence and faith-driven mission for making the partnership with Big League Impact so seamless. For Wainwright, the work of providing safe water and sharing the hope of the Gospel is inseparable.
“I don’t find anywhere in Scripture where it says, ‘Now that you’re a believer, sit on your rear end and do nothing,'” he said. “It says, ‘Go.'”
This shared vision has produced abundant fruit, providing safe water and the hope of the Gospel to vulnerable people across the globe.
“I knew that we were going to have a platform big enough to help, but it’s been a tremendous blessing to walk with Water Mission through these years,” Wainwright said. “Knowing we’ve helped save a lot of lives together in those communities — it’s powerful.”
Wainwright highlighted the vital role of water as the foundation of life. “If you’re unable to have safe water, you’re unable to go to work, go to church, go to school, play sports — everything starts with water,” he said. “I’ve seen the impact Water Mission has had on communities, on changing lives, and I’ll never forget that.”
Inspiring His Peers to Act
Throughout his 18-year baseball career, Wainwright used his platform to inspire other players to find causes they are passionate about, and then to get involved. This has led several other players to support Water Mission’s work through the years.
“When you find something that’s been impactful in your life, you can’t help but tell other people about it,” Wainwright said. “That’s how I feel about Water Mission.”
That encouragement has led young players like Mariners prospect Harry Ford to get involved, with Ford citing Wainwright’s influence after hearing him speak at a Pro Athletes Outreach event.
“So many players want to get involved with something and just don’t know how. Water Mission is a great start,” Wainwright said.
Today, Ford is a brand ambassador for Water Mission and has embarked on a season-long campaign called “Swing for Safe Water,” where he makes a gift to Water Mission for each home run he hits.
Moments like a conversation with fellow big-leaguer Mauricio Dubón, who grew up near a Water Mission project in Honduras, reaffirmed to Wainwright the eternal value of his efforts.
“When Mauricio told me how that project impacted his life, it brought fresh validation,” he said. “It reminded me that the platform God gave me really mattered beyond the game of baseball.”
Partnering to Make an Eternal Impact
Wainwright and Big League Impact have long championed Water Mission’s vision through funding, advocacy and steadfast support. The partnership has led to more than 20,000 people receiving access to safe water and hearing the Good News of the Gospel. Wainwright founded Big League Impact to make change that would endure the test of time.
“We didn’t want just to be an organization that did something once a year,” he said. “We wanted to have a lasting impact.”
Thanks to Wainwright’s heart for serving others and his passion for providing safe water, Big League Impact and Water Mission will partner together to continue fighting the global water crisis. Through providing safe water and a chance to experience God’s love, this partnership is making an impact that lasts for eternity.
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