Some nights stay with you, because they were alive—full of music, meaning, and the kind of energy that reminds you why this work matters. Our Rhythms of Water Gala was one of those nights.
$192,000 for Water+ Solutions
We’re still processing this: $192,000 raised for comprehensive Water+ solutions.
That’s safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health reaching communities in Haiti, Indonesia, and Uganda. That’s young women staying in school. That’s mothers with time back in their day. That’s entire communities building their own sustainable futures. And it happened because hundreds of people showed up—to give and to celebrate.
A Celebration of Culture
This wasn’t your typical gala. We wanted to honor the places where we work—not as distant stories, but as vibrant cultures deserving of celebration. So we brought Haiti, Indonesia, and Uganda into the room through the senses.
At the “Listen to the Rhythms” station, people heard celebratory music from the communities we work alongside. Laughter, drums, voices lifted in song—sounds of joy that don’t always make it into conversations about the work Surge does, but absolutely should.
At the “Taste the Rhythms” station, people tried local snacks and drinks from the countries where we work. Because food is connection. Flavor is culture. And when you taste Samosas or sip a Haitian cocktail, you’re experiencing a piece of the world we’re honored to work alongside.
The People Who Made It Possible
None of this happens without partners who believe in the mission as much as we do.
Huge gratitude to our sponsors: Tito’s, Gene & Georgetti, HDR, Boeh Agency, Pivot Point, and Spavia—your investment means everything.
Chicago’s culinary scene showed up and showed out. Gene & Georgetti, Bombay Eats, Eli’s Cheesecake, Nimba, Saigon Sister, Rendang Republic, and Sultan’s Market brought incredible flavors that turned the evening into a true feast.
Amazing drinks were provided by Tito’s, Big Mich, Best Day Brewing, 220 Wine and Spirits, and Revolution Brewing.
Chicago artist Adriana Miranda commissioned a gorgeous piece for the silent auction.
If the gala had a heartbeat, it was the music. Local Chicago musicians brought the celebration to life: Lawrence Tolefree, DJ L O Kari, Unik Mizik, and Victoria Boateng. Every beat, every note reminded us that rhythm is universal—and so is the human need for clean water.
What It All Means
Here’s the thing about a night like this: it’s not just about the money raised (though $192,000 will do incredible, tangible good). It’s about the feeling in the room. The recognition that we’re all connected—across oceans, cultures, and circumstances. The understanding that when we invest in women’s leadership and locally-owned solutions, we’re partnering with communities who are already leading the way.
By 2030, our goal is to reach 1 million people per day with Water+ solutions. Nights like the Rhythms of Water Gala? They get us closer.
To everyone who attended, sponsored, performed, cooked, donated, danced, listened, and believed—thank you!
Find more photos from the night here!
Want to keep the momentum going? Every contribution—big or small—brings us closer to that 2030 vision. Donate here.
