| Scott Harrison | |
|---|---|
Harrison speaking in 2010. |
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| Born | September 7, 1975 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Residence | New York, NY |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | New York University |
| Known for | charity: water |
| Spouse | Viktoria Harrison (née Alexeeva) |
Scott Harrison (born September 7, 1975)[1] is an American photographer, photojournalist, entrepreneur and founder and president of the non-profit charity: water.[2]
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Harrison was born an only child in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Charles and Joan Harrison.[3] His family relocated and he was raised in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.[3][4] When Harrison was four years old, his mother was exposed to carbon monoxide from a cracked furnace installed in their new energy efficient home.[5] His mother's immune system was destroyed and she became an invalid.[3][4][5] As a result, Harrison grew up taking care of his mother and the household.[5] Years later his mother was miraculously healed. He credits his family's deep Christian faith for giving them hope that one day his mother would be healed. [4]
At age 18, Harrison left home for New York City and enrolled at New York University (NYU). He graduated from NYU with a bachelor's degree in communications in 1998.[3] Harrison admits he was not a diligent student,[3] and began working as a nightclub and party promoter in Manhattan.[2] He spent the next 10 years throwing lavish parties for the likes of MTV, VH1, Bacardi and Elle.[6] Harrison describes this as a time when he was "chasing after models," mingling with the New York City elite and indulging in illicit drugs including cocaine and ecstasy.[5]
When he was 28, Harrison had a "crisis of conscience" during a vacation in Uruguay.[7][8] Harrison had an epiphany about his job and life: "I was selling selfishness and decadence."[8] He recalled feeling like "the most selfish, sycophantic and miserable human being" and "the worst person I knew."[2]
In August 2004, Harrison quit his job and volunteered as a photojournalist for the Christian charity Mercy Ships, which operates a fleet of hospital ships offering free healthcare.[9] He served aboard the Mercy Ship Anastasis in West Africa, taking over 60,000 photos in 13 months.[10] While on his first mission trip with Mercy Ships, Harrison received word that his mother was "miraculously healed" of her illness.[4][5]
During his two years with Mercy Ships, Harrison was exposed to the harsh conditions of the impoverished in Liberia.[5] He realized that 80% of all the diseases they encountered were attributable to unsafe water and poor sanitation.[11] He wanted to commit to a life of service, and decided that the lack of clean water was the biggest obstacle facing the poor.[11]
Harrison founded charity: water on September 7, 2006, on the night of his 31st birthday.[5] In lieu of receiving gifts, he charged his friends $20 each to attend his party at the yet unopened Tenjune nightclub.[5] He raised $15,000 that night, which went towards fixing three wells and building three more at a refugee camp in Northern Uganda.[5]
charity: water uses all public donations to directly fund water projects such as building wells and sanitation facilities.[12] Since its founding, charity: water has established 25 local partnerships, funded approximately 3,962 projects in 19 countries and provided roughly 1.8 million people with clean water.[12] The organization's goal is to bring clean water to 100 million people by 2020.[3][13]
Harrison is married to Viktoria Harrison (née Alexeeva) of St. Petersburg, Russia.[14] The two were wed on September 26, 2009, in Washington, Connecticut. Viktoria Harrison currently serves as the Director of Design and Branding at charity: water.[15]
Harrison often cites his Christian faith as a source of inspiration and motivation in his work and life.[4][6] His spiritual re-awakening led him to volunteer with Mercy Ships and to found charity: water.[9]