By Heather Hunter | Photos by Julia Curry

At this month’s 4:30 Meetup, Synergize members gathered to benefit a cause that most residents of Carmel don’t usually have to think about; access to clean water.

This most basic of needs is being met in countries worldwide by Fountains of Hope International, a Carmel-based organization founded and run by Bill Farrar. The organization installs two-tank filter systems, developed by Bill himself, in villages across multiple continents. With nothing but a common battery and a small amount of salt, each filter system can provide a decade of clean water for hundreds of families. 

The filtration systems remove bacteria that cause life-threatening water-borne diseases, such as typhoid, cholera, and giardia. More than 3.4 million people in the developing world die each year from these diseases.

“Fountains of Hope is an amazing organization, and Bill is amazing to work with,” said Tara Stanton of Synergize, who spoke at the event. “His heart for the people he serves is just beautiful.”

FOH’s annual fundraising gala – the Hues of Blue Gala – is coming up on November 11. “It’ll be a really fun, interactive event with lots of activities,” said Angie Murrell, FOH Board Member, at the 4:30 Meetup. “We’d love to see a record-breaking amount of people there.”

Those interested in purchasing tickets to the Hues of Blue Gala can do so at www.fountainsofhope.org. Synergize Members can use the code “SYNERGIZE” to buy one, get one 50% off until Friday, October 27.

Bill has been a longtime member of Synergize, a Carmel-based group established to give professionals a space to build and grow quality friendships with each other. Each month, Synergize uses a portion of its memberships to benefit a non-profit cause. 

“With Synergize, the impact is important because it’s something that ties us all together,” said Shaun Goodyear, CEO and co-owner of Synergize. “Because of the relationships we’re all building, we’re able to learn about new causes and connect new people to them, too.”

Shaun and his wife, Tiffany, have recently joined Synergize as co-owners alongside Arron and Tara Stanton. Their addition to the team has led to a lot of changes in the organization, including a selection of new memberships and benefits. The 4:30 Meetup, however, will remain a staple of Synergize’s event calendar. 

“Synergize’s Ripple of Impact is an irreplaceable part of our organization, and the 4:30 Meetup is a big, big part of that,” said Arron Stanton, founder of Synergize. “We will always continue to impact the community because it’s who we are, and it’s who our members are.”

Learn more about Synergize at www.synergizeindy.com