To honor World Water Day today, the Rotary International and USAID have launched the International H2O Collaboration to implement water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in the developing world.

Rotarians worldwide, however, are focused all year long on the issue, like john Hopf who quit his job to hike 2,000 miles for water awareness. Rotary clubs are volunteering their time and resources to provide safe water and sanitation facilities to communities in need.

Today, Hopf takes his first steps down the Appalachian Trail as part of Hike4Water, a fundraising effort to support clean water solutions in Guatemala and Tanzania.

The 26-year-old quit his job as a fitness manager to hike the entire 2,200-mile trail from Georgia to Maine within about five months, stopping along the way to raise awareness among Rotary clubs and talk to the media.

Holiday donations to The Salvation Army’s iconic red kettles set a new national record of $130 million, despite the ongoing economic downturn, surpassing the previous record of $118 million set in 2007. The 10 percent growth in donations was the largest one-year jump in 11 years.

“We know that Americans always give more in time of need, so we were confident that they would again respond to the call with an outstanding show of generosity. We thank all the donors, volunteers and corporate partners for their contributions and stand resolute in our Mission to serve those who need it most,” said Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, National Commander of The Salvation Army.

The group saw large increases in donations to its kettles in the Eastern territories, by 19 percent, and in the South, by 12 percent. Donations at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores accounted for more than 26 percent of the total raised, or $34 million. Along with a $1.25 million grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, the stores hosted early bell ringers and red kettles on November 8 for a pre-campaign “special day of giving” to give extra support to local communities facing tough economic times.