Leonard and Sara Lafrance have pledged their support for the continuing work of DRI’s Center for International Water and Sustainability (CIWAS).
Their two-year gift will support Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services in the North and North East Gonja District of the Savannah Region of Ghana. Specifically, this gift will fund project components that include WASH entrepreneurial empowerment for women, increased WASH services for health care facilities, well drilling for water access, water quality management, and overall project management.
“We are deeply grateful for the Lafrances’ unwavering support, which has been instrumental in advancing our mission. Their generosity not only empowers our work but also fuels a global movement toward improved water access and sustainability,” Braimah Apambire, Senior Director of CIWAS at DRI.
The Lafrances have been dedicated supporters of CIWAS and WASH initiatives for many years. Between 2023 to 2025, their generous contributions enabled the program to achieve significant milestones: 33 women were trained through the Women Entrepreneurs for WASH Sustainability project, three health care facilities received water access via borehole drilling, and hygiene and sanitation were improved in selected health care settings. Additionally, local circuit riders were trained and equipped to handle the repair and maintenance of water systems, among other achievements.
Thank you to Leonard and Sara Lafrance for their continued support of the CIWAS program and DRI. Together, we can create a better future for the people of Nevada and the global community.
To learn more about supporting CIWAS or other solutions-oriented science at DRI, please contact Kristin Burgarello, Director of Development, at kristin.burgarello@dri.edu or 775.673.7386.
