Get To Know Our New Board President

We are excited to announce Thomas (Tommy) McCarthy as President of the WFSS Board of Directors!

Tommy has been an Officer on our Board of Directors since 2019, previously serving as our Vice President. Here is what he has to say about his time with WFSS and what he sees for the future.

“Salva spoke at a Leadership Seminar I was a part of at Penfield High School in 2007, and his early life experience as a Lost Boy moved me to want to support those in need of the most basic necessity, water. Water, sanitation, and hygiene seem to be the baseline for developing countries leading to the capacity to build clinics, schools, markets, etc., so the ability to help bring something so foundational to the people of South Sudan really jumped out at me. Especially being from an area of the world where water is so easily accessible.”

“I participated in my first fundraiser as a junior at Penfield High School in 2007. Then, I collected donations while I worked at Mayer Paint and Hardware in the City of Rochester from 2009—2012. I became the first WFSS intern from June 2011—July 2012 and joined the Board of Directors in August 2013. 

“As Board President, I help drive the organization by providing leadership to the Board of Directors and its committees while working closely with our US Executive Director & South Sudanese leadership to create and implement the organization's strategic plan while also ensuring financial monitoring and reporting.”

“When I traveled to South Sudan in 2020 to see our work firsthand, I was amazed by the impact a single well could have and also by the eagerness of the South Sudanese people to help build it as well as ensure it is maintained for their community for years to come.” 

“My hope for WFSS is that the organization will continue to provide life-changing services to and with the people of South Sudan. In doing so, WFSS acts as an example to other non-profits and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) on how to not only temporarily support the people of South Sudan's needs but to partner with them to develop critically needed infrastructure that will live on.”

“Likewise, I hope the people of South Sudan will continue to receive support from organizations like WFSS so they too can have access to even the most basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. This access allows local leadership to focus on growing the opportunity for the people of South Sudan’s access to more advanced medical and education services that the population so deeply needs.”

“WFSS does not just provide temporary aid, but we also provide the foundational infrastructure hand in hand with the people of South Sudan. The WASH services we provide are just the beginning. Once accessible, boys and girls can attend school, parents can begin agriculture activities, and communities and markets can be established that can support one another. The work we are doing is literally watering the seeds of change for the people of South Sudan.”

Please join us in congratulating Tommy!