NEWS | Tom Skerl To Receive 2024 Changemaker Award at 11th Annual Giving Splash Party
CLEVELAND, September 12, 2024 — Drink Local Drink Tap, the Cleveland-based nonprofit, is proud to recognize Tom Skerl with the 2024 Changemaker Award at the 11th Annual Giving Splash Party on November 14th, 2024. Each year, Drink Local Drink Tap selects an organization, company, or people who have gone above and beyond as supporters and stewards of clean water. Recipients of the Changemaker Award have shown an unwavering commitment to Drink Local Drink Taps’ mission and programs and continue to inspire passion for our future goals.
Thomas Skerl is a proud native Clevelander who has made Chagrin Falls his home. He’s a dedicated father of two who graduated from St. Ignatius High School and was a marketing major from Bowling Green State University. After an 18-year tenure as Vice President of Sales at Northcoast Business Systems, a leading office equipment company, he embraced his entrepreneurial spirit in 2005 by founding Pure Water Technology in Cleveland, Ohio. This innovative business focuses on providing environmentally friendly, “bottle-free” drinking water purifiers aimed at enhancing workplace hydration. His efforts have significantly impacted over 20,000 companies across major markets in the U.S., particularly in Cleveland, helping them reduce their carbon footprint while promoting the health and wellness of their workforce.
In 2015 the City of Cleveland honored Pure Water Technology with its distinguished Sustainable Cleveland Award, celebrating its role in eliminating over 25,000,000 plastic water bottles at civic events, festivals, fundraisers, and businesses, showcasing a commitment to sustainability. Pure Water Technology, now proudly rebranded as Hydrate HQ, has been recognized as a seven-time Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Company and a five-time Top 50 Great Place to Work in Northeast Ohio. Tom is deeply involved with various charitable organizations, including Drink Local Drink Tap and was inducted into the Cleveland JRC Softball Hall of Fame.
It brings us great pleasure to honor him with the 2024 Drink Local Drink Tap Changemaker Award. To purchase tickets (by October 23rd) or donate to Annual Giving Splash Party, visit bit.ly/AGSPDLDT
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Since 2010, Drink Local Drink Tap has worked both domestically in Northeast Ohio and internationally in Uganda to improve water equity and quality. Over 50,000 people now have access to clean water and over 17,000 people have sanitation as a result of Drink Local Drink Tap’s projects in Uganda. With the help of Cleveland-based volunteers, Drink Local Drink Tap has also removed over 16,000 pounds of trash through beach clean-ups and engaged over 24,000 young people in doing so. Our mission is to improve water equity through projects, programming, and partnerships because we believe clean water is a human right. Website: drinklocaldrinktap.org
Contact Erin Huber – erin@drinklocaldrinktap.org, Drink Local Drink Tap, Executive Director