By Kylee Miller, SUU SUCCESS Academy
Learn how students in our community are taking steps towards meaningful change in distant countries. On May 9th, 2026, SUU SUCCESS Academy students participated in their Key Club’s Annual Thirst Walk raising over $2,000 in funds to provide clean water to communities in need. This event supported the Thirst Project’s mission in ending the global water crisis.
Key Club is the oldest and largest service program for high school students in the world. They provide opportunities for high school students to serve others, build character, and develop leadership skills. They also provide students with scholarship opportunities to further their growth. Key Club selects their own officers, runs their own activities, and service projects. One of the Key Club’s annual service projects is the Thirst Walk where Key Club International Partners with the Thirst Project to raise funds. You can learn more about Key Club on their website, keyclub.org.
The Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization that works with the support of young people to end the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities. These wells provide clean water that help prevent serious diseases like cholera, dysentery, or schistosomiasis in young children who have weaker immune systems. You can learn more about the Thirst Project on their website, thirstproject.org.
The Thirst Walk fundraiser is a replication of the average 3.75 mile walk millions of people take daily to collect water that is usually contaminated from nearby swamps, streams, and puddles in their local communities. Key Club groups around the world have collectively walked 24,000 miles to raise $24,000 for the Thirst Project, to bring freshwater wells to these communities. If you would like to participate in next year’s Thirst Walk please email [email protected] to learn more.
SUU SUCCESS Academy Key Club conducted their Thirst Walk fundraiser on May 9th, 2026, at Cedar City’s Eccles Coliseum. They raised over $2,000 for the Thirst Project leading to them raising the 2nd highest amount of any Key Club in the Nation. If you would like to learn more or contribute to the Thirst Walk you can still donate at my.thirstproject.org/KCWalks.
In honor of this great achievement SUU SUCCESS Academy Key Club and the Kiwanis Club will be hosting a celebration on October 5th, 2026, at 6:00 PM in SUU Bristlecone Hall, Room 105. The event is open to the public and will feature presentations from both Clubs and the Thirst Project. There will be a silent auction and a water drive where they will collect unopened bottled water to donate directly to the Iron County Care and Share. To learn more you can visit their website at careandshare-ut.org. All proceeds will go to the Kiwanis and Key Club to support their future fundraisers.
To make this all possible Key Club is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, an adult service organization whose mission is to help children in local communities. Iron County Kiwanis Club is always looking for more members who are interested in serving our community and supporting our local children. You can learn more about the Kiwanis Club on their website, kiwanis.org.