By April Day, Director of Publishing for Save The Water™ | September 15, 2019
Twenty years ago, in September of 1999, Frank Ramos and his late friend Allan Fusco founded Save The Water™. Mr. Fusco was an entrepreneur. On the other hand, Mr. Ramos is a scientist. Together, they shared a dream to start a nonprofit which aimed to identify dangerous, toxic chemicals in water. The vision of Save The Water™ is “healthy, contamination-free water for all.”
On the one hand, co-founder and current Save The Water™ president Mr. Ramos brought 40 years of experience in industrial wastewater treatment system research, design, and management. He has worked closely with various chemicals throughout his career. As a result, he knows how toxic chemicals impact the environment and people. In addition, Mr. Ramos understands how little science is known about unregulated contaminants in water.
On the other hand, co-founder Mr. Fusco brought his business knowledge to growing the organization. First, Mr. Fusco contacted his friends Steve Falk and John Datino. As a result, these two people joined the organization at once. And they continue to be part of the organization today. Mr. Falk is a Certified Public Accountant. He serves Save The Water™ as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Datino is an engineer who brings extensive experience in water treatment.
Although the co-founders formed a dream together, they both faced a challenge that has been linked by scientific research to chemicals present in contaminated water: cancer. Mr. Fusco passed away. Mr. Ramos carries on their dream.
Growing Save the Water™
By 2011, Save The Water™ got its not for profit registration. From that point until 2014, Save The Water™ grew locally in Surfside and surrounding areas in Florida.
For example, in 2012, Save The Water™ launched a flagship program called DILOS™ (“Day in the Life of a Scientist) for young children and students to get interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects. Through DILOS™, students can learn about water analysis and what a day as a scientist would be like. Save The Water™ recognized the shortage of qualified professionals in water research as a threat to healthy, contamination-free water now and in the future. As a result, the organization took a sustained and holistic approach to combat this threat.
By 2016, the organization’s mission was revised to include two new objectives: (1) raise awareness of water contamination issues and (2) open an accredited analytical laboratory. Thus, the organization’s current mission is “to conduct water research to identify and remove harmful contaminants in water, and to raise public awareness about water contamination and its health impact.”
Since 2018, the organization has focused on raising funds for our laboratory with a detailed study and proposal of the Everglades and continues the DILOS™ program.
