Darvish an ace in pitching projects to provide safe drinking water
Darvish an ace in pitching projects to provide safe drinking water
Ace hurler Yu Darvish has not only thrown his best pitches from the mound for the San Diego Padres and Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
He’s also the pitchman for the Darvish Yu Water Fund, which has provided safe drinking water to people in developing countries since 2007.
Darvish was 20 and in his third year with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters when he set up the fund with the nonprofit organization Japan Water Forum in March 2007.
He embarked on his initiative out of concern for people who are using contaminated water sources or suffering from unsanitary conditions in impoverished countries and regions.
“When I asked myself if I could do something for society and the world through baseball, I decided to start with what little I could,” Darvish said at the time. “I hope my modest thoughts will encourage many people and myself over time.”
The fund had financed 15 projects in 11 countries, such as digging wells and installing water pumps and rainwater-harvesting tanks, by the end of last year.
Darvish has donated 100,000 yen ($750) for every game he wins.
The fund had received about 23 million yen in revenue by March 2022, including donations from supporters.
