Contact:Michael Dolan Director of Communications Augustinian Friars, Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova P.O. Box 340 Villanova, PA 19085-0340

Phone: 610-527-3330 ext. 248 Fax: 610-520-0618 E-mail: [email protected]: www.augustinian.org

Documentary Release for Water Project to be Held April 30 at Villanova

For Immediate ReleaseApril 21, 2005

Philadelphia, PA – “Water for Waslala,” a program founded to raise awareness and funds to provide potable water systems to the impoverished region of Waslala, Nicaragua, celebrates the release of a documentary on the project on April 30 at Villanova University.

Matt Nespoli, a 2004 Villanova University graduate, founded “Water for Waslala” as a volunteer project for the Augustinian Volunteers, a yearlong volunteer program run by the Augustinian religious order. Based out of Saint Augustine Church in Philadelphia, Matt has spent the past year raising funds that will enable the people of Waslala, Nicaragua, to have access to safe and clean water.

The project was inspired by a service trip Nespoli took to Nicaragua in 2002, a trip that altered forever his path in life. Immediately after graduating from Villanova University, he signed up with the Augustinian Volunteers and has devoted his life to his vision of providing clean water to a population thousands of miles away. His goal is to raise $100,000.00 during his year as an Augustinian Volunteer.

A documentary on “Water for Waslala” and the needs of the people in Waslala was created in the past year by Nespoli and local filmmaker Sean Dolan, who traveled to Waslala with Philadelphian Nora Pillard and Delaware County native Ed Dolan to shoot the film.

The documentary release is open to the public and will be held at 7:00 P.M. on April 30 at the Connelly Center, Villanova University. Tickets are $10 in advance; $12 at the door. A discussion with the filmmakers will follow the documentary. To support “Water for Waslala” and for more information: 610.724.5181 and www.waterforwaslala.org.

*

NOTE: Digital images available upon request.

*

Augustinian Volunteers are Catholic men and women who wish to serve God’s people in partnership with the Augustinians and others. The work of the volunteers is with established educational, social, and health service programs and varies according to the needs of the sponsoring site and the individual volunteer. They currently serve in Philadelphia, PA; Lawrence, MA; Bronx, NY; Chicago, IL; San Diego, CA; Peru; and South Africa. Information: www.osavol.org.

# # #