Katie Spotz is a 26-year- old adventurer and safe water advocate from Ohio. In addition to her world record-breaking solo row across the Atlantic Ocean, she has completed an Ironman triathlon, an ultramarathon in Australia, a bike ride across America, a 325 mile river swim, and a run across deserts.
By telling inspirational stories of her own adventures, Spotz reminds students that everyone can tackle bigger problems than their own and make a difference in the lives of others, while becoming energized global citizens and activists for change.
Since her record breaking row in 2010, Spotz has made it her mission to bring awareness to the plight of billions of people around the world who suffer from a lack of safe drinking water. By speaking to groups and organizations around the country and sharing her personal stories of triumph, she has inspired thousands of people to believe that extraordinary achievements are within everyone’s grasp.
In this nationwide initiative to raise $250,000 for water projects in the developing world, Spotz has partnered with H2O for Life, a nonprofit service learning organization, to inspire 30,000 students from 50 schools across the United States to help partner schools from the developing world gain access to clean water, improved sanitation, and hygiene education.