You may have recently noticed a colorful addition flying above the ice skating rink at Galleria Dallas. It's an installation called From Fold to Flight, and besides being incredibly beautiful to gaze upon, the striking display has an important message.
Learn six cool things about the story behind the butterflies below, and marvel at their beauty through August 19 at Galleria Dallas.
1. It's not just an installation
Each of the 4,000 rainbow-colored origami butterflies was hand-folded by one of over 800 volunteers. Why would anyone do this? To help bring awareness to Paper for Water, a nonprofit organization that raises money to drill wells for some of the world's 783 million people who lack access to clean water.
2. From hobbyists to humanitarians
Paper for Water was founded by Isabelle and Katherine Adams — when they were only 5 and 8 years old. The girls began by folding origami Christmas ornaments to sell for $1 each, hoping to raise just $500 to help fund the building of a well in Ethiopia. Since then, Paper for Water has raised over $1.5 million and funded 160 water projects in 14 countries around the world. Younger sister Trinity now helps run the organization, and parents Deborah and Kenneth help run the nonprofit as a business and manage the girls' projects and speaking engagements.
3. Doing good around the world
At just ages 14 and 11, the Adams girls have already received numerous awards and have traveled internationally to visit their wells, meeting with the U.S. ambassador to India and a member of the Indian parliament. One of their current projects is helping give clean water access to 250 homes on the Navajo Reservation at Smith Lake, New Mexico.
4. Clean water for all
When the Adams girls learned that other girls worldwide often do not get to go to school because they spend their days hauling water, they were moved to action. They also learned that a child dies every 20 seconds from unclean water, and that due to unsafe water and poor sanitation conditions in much of the developing world, millions of people try to survive on water that may kill them.
5. Popularity prevails
Initially, From Fold to Flight installation was only going to be on display at Galleria Dallas through the end of June. But due to its massive popularity, you can now experience it through August 19.
6. Snap a pic
A special Instagram wall has been set up next to the installation — be sure to pause for a picture to remember the amazing artwork and all the good it's doing, and don't forget to tag @galleriadallas while you're at it.
Each of these 4,000 butterflies was hand-folded.
