Teen Sisters’ Paper For Water — Gifts That Give

Paper For Water is a shining example of how even children can change lives with something beautiful.

In my search for exceptional and meaningful holiday gift-giving ideas for our readers, Elizabeth Mast at Talulah & Hess told me about this absolutely astonishing company. Paper For Water was launched in 2011 by two of the most impressive young women I’ve ever come across, Isabelle and Katherine Adams.

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As you can see from the lovely photos, these young ladies from Dallas make origami holiday decorations. But, that’s the tip of the proverbial iceberg. These ornaments have changed the lives of people all over the world. 

It’s a family tradition to fold origami. The girls learned from their father, Kenneth, who, in turn, had learned from his mother. There are seven generations of Presbyterian ministers in the Adams lineage, so service is also a family tradition. 

Rooted in Service, Rooted in Love

When Isabella and Katherine were eight and five years old, respectively, they were talking to their mom, Deborah, in the carpool line back in 2011.

“We were discussing how many girls in Africa could not attend school because there were no fresh water sources in their villages,” Deborah said. “They had to spend their days hauling water.” The sisters thought this was very unfair and wanted to do something about it.

As fate would have it, the Adams had a friend living in their garage apartment, who had just returned from a drilling trip for Living Water International (LWI). 

“We had no idea she was doing this,” Deborah said. “She brought over her photo books and showed the girls how you drill a well and all of the details involved in bringing fresh water to people.”

The girls learned that every 15 seconds, a child dies from unclean water and 844 million people lack access to basic clean drinking water. It seemed logical to put their origami ornaments to work raising funds for a well. To say they’ve exceeded their original goal is putting it mildly. 

“We had created a lot of ornaments over the course of a few months,” Isabella said.

They started accumulating around the house, and their mom suggested they do something worthwhile with them.

In November 2011, the girls hosted the first night of a month-long fundraiser at the local Starbucks. Their goal was $500. They raised $800 the first night, and the fundraiser was extended.

“After two months of doing it, we had raised over $10,000, and it kind of just snowballed from there,” Katherine said.

By 2012 the girls had their 501-C3 non-profit status, a board of directors, and a few part-time staff. In 9 years, they have raised more than 2 million dollars and helped fund over 230 water projects in over 20 countries. They have traveled the world to see the water and sanitation projects funded by Paper For Water and been implemented by Living Water International and DigDeep. They have also become profoundly engaging and educational speakers reaching out to businesses, churches, and schools.

“We want to also empower youth with skills in leadership, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship, and improve their understanding, compassion, and empathy while broadening their knowledge of the world around them,” Katherine said recently in a speech at Paper For Water’s 9th Annual Event.

‘Kids Are Underestimated’

The Adam’s sisters have expanded beyond ornaments, of course, and provide a variety of items, including backgrounds for virtual events.

They have created several impressive installations, including an enormous temporary exhibit at The Galleria and a fixed installation at the Crow Collection of Asian Art. They’ve been covered in national media and their paper creations were featured on the cover of a Neiman Marcus catalog.

Each holiday season, they decorate trees for the Four Seasons Hotel and corporations who, in turn, donate those trees to homeless shelters, hospices, and daycare centers.

Katherine summed it up beautifully, “Kids are underestimated. They have so much power to impact change. You just have to start.”

Although Isabelle will be headed to college next year and Katherine soon after, I’ve no doubt little sister Trinity will take up the CEO mantle when they are away.

Keep your eye on the Adams sisters. They are destined to keep making an impact. 

You can find Paper For Water ornaments on their website or at Talulah & Hess in Lakewood. I can’t think of a better way to kick off your holiday season than with a purchase and a donation to impact people at home and around the world who lack something we take for granted, clean water.