Doc Hendley, an author and founder of a nonprofit group that brings clean water to places without it, will appear in the atrium of the Student Success Building Feb. 19 for a lecture and book signing in connection with the Center for Urban Education’s 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform program.

Hendley, president and founder of Wine to Water, will speak at 11 a.m. and then sign his book, “Wine to Water: A Bartender’s Quest to Bring Clean Water to the World.” A reception is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Cynthia Baron, associate directorof Learning Communities and First Year Success, says 27 of FYS’s learning communities adopted Hendley’s book as part of a joint reading program with 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform. The students have participated in discussions of the book and approximately 50 of them took part in a South Platte River cleanup in the fall.

Reading Hendley’s book and bringing him to the University to lecture was inspired by MSU Denver’s commitment to water issues and stewardship, Baron says. “We thought this was a great way to highlight them and involve the students in a meaningful way they can relate to.”

Hendley says on his website that the idea the idea to start Wine to Water was when he was tending bar. “I dreamed of building an organization that fought water-related death and disease using different methods than anyone else. So, I started raising money to fight this water epidemic…by pouring wine and playing music.”

The first fundraiser was held in February 2004, and by August of that year Hendley was living in Darfur, Sudan, installing water systems for victims of the genocide, his website says. In 2007, Wine to Water was recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aid organization.

Hendley’s visit is co-sponsored by Student Activities, 1 Book/1 Project/2 Transform, the One World, One Water Center for Urban Water Education and Stewardship, and Learning Communities and First Year Success.