A sold-out crowd gathered at Hotel ZaZa on Saturday evening, February 28, 2026 for a night of celebration and impact to bring clean water to people in Burundi. Guests enjoyed a unique water walk simulation, dinner, dancing, a lively auction, and photo booth to capture the moment.
The smiles tell the story of a community coming together to build clean water systems that transform daily life in Burundi.
The Impact of Clean Water Systems
The event raised more than $250,000 to fund the construction of five water systems in rural Burundi.
These sustainable, spring-fed water systems bring vital infrastructure, health, and hope to Burundi, a small East African nation of 13 million people, where a majority of people make their living through agriculture.
Since 2006, the Gazelle Foundation has provided clean water to more than 144,560 people in rural Burundi, creating 5,651 jobs, completed 76 water systems, and brought clean water to 69 schools, churches, hospitals, and marketplaces.
How Clean Water Systems Get Done
Guests were welcomed by beloved Austin NewsRadio KLBJ sportscaster Ed Clements who gave special remarks and a toast to his dear friend Gilbert Tuhabonye, Gazelle Foundation Co-Founder. He shared a few anecdotes about their long friendship and how Gilbert had recently made a hole-in-one at Butler Pitch & Putt where they frequently golf together. Referring to Gilbert’s decision to bring clean water to his home country, he says, “You are a rich man. Look at what you’ve created!”
Gazelle Co-Founder Peter Rauch took to the stage to explain that the Foundation began its work by working with local NGOs, which took three times as long. “We got together and said, what if we do this ourselves? The rest is history,” said Rauch. “There’s no backhoes or electricity where we work, so it’s largely a labor-intensive process.”
The Foundation contracts with a long-time project manager in Burundi, who delivers GPS coordinates, receipts, photos, and milestones before funds are released. This is why the path that each donation takes to get to Burundi is remarkably short. Donations are pooled together and sent to Burundi as construction milestones are met for each new water system.
Gilbert’s Story from Burundi to Austin
Hema Mullur, a former CBS KEYE evening news anchor and employment attorney, served as gala’s emcee. She interviewed Co-Founder Gilbert Tuhabonye about his story of growing up in Burundi, his daily struggle for clean water, the genocide he survived, and how running with joy literally saved his life.
Recovering in the hospital with burns over 30% of his body, he dreamed of running again. When he received a letter inviting him to run for Tulane University on scholarship, it was a message of hope that inspired him and eventually led him to the United States and Abilene Christian University.
After college, he moved to Austin on the recommendation of a friend and began helping three women prepare for a triathlon. “Little did I know, Maeve and her team were recruiting behind my back,” he chuckles. “In a month, I had 22 people who wanted coaching. They were writing me a business plan.”
In addition to Gilbert’s Gazelles, his coaching business and his work with the Gazelle Foundation, Tuhabonye coaches at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School and speaks professionally. He and his wife Triphine make their home in Austin.
A Full Circle Moment
Gilbert with his mother Martha in Burundi 2023.
Gilbert reflects back on the good and the bad, “My life was not easy, but it was a lot of fun.” He shared another story about the hardship of not having close access to clean water when his mother was sick. “I had to ask friends to help me carry my mom to a hospital, and it was 6 miles of climbing,” he says. “But it wasn’t over. I stayed to fetch water for her while she was in the hospital. I missed school to do this.”
As the story came full circle, he noted that all these places where clean water wasn’t available during his youth is now available because of the efforts of the Gazelle Foundation. “The clinic that treated my mother has water now, there are tap stands all around where I grew up, and schools have water.”
A recent Visit to Burundi
Maslin Redett, the Gazelle Foundation’s Community Development Associate, shared her experience visiting Burundi this past fall. Visiting the country with her dad who was attending a medical conference, she and her twin sister and Gazelle Foundation Project Manager Jean Bosco Ndabaniwe. visited one of the water systems that was recently finished.
“I was in awe of how beautiful Burundi is, but there were stark contrasts between the richness of the culture and the lack of economic investment,” she said. A 60-mile trip could take four hours or more because of road conditions.
When they arrived at the Musinzara-Matana Water System #74. She was met by masons, plumbers, officials, and families who welcomed her with celebration, joy, laughter, and dancing. They were so kind and thankful she came. “It was emotional seeing the work because it was hard to visualize how large these systems really are,” she said
Relying on a local resident to translate, a woman told her, “To have this water is a gift of God. We are so thankful.”
Clean Water Flows Because of You
The auction and dedicated give followed the gala program and raised enough money to five water systems that should serve upwards of 8,000 individuals.
Building clean water systems transforms daily life in Burundi, turning generosity into sustainable infrastructure and hope into clean running water.
“Because of you, water will flow,” said Gilbert.
Partners in Impact
Thanks to our volunteers and table sponsors for making the event possible.
Water to Wine Partners: Leslie & Art DelVesco and inKind
Difference Makers: Kim & Dermot O’Driscoll, BKEL LLC, Dan McNamara
Impact Partners: Anonymous, Natalie & Steve Brown, Nancy Heydemann, Bloom ATX, Kelly & Ashish Patel, and Amy & Chad Whited
Concrete Partner: Raina Hornaday
2026 Spring For The Water Event Committee
We are grateful to Spring For The Water Committee Co-Chairs Natalie Brown and Suellen Carson along with Emily Ballenger, Lucy Lamy, Taylor Matchok, Nicol Nietschmann, Kelly Patel, Jenny Stone, Triphine Tuhabonye, and Kathleen Woodhead.
2026 Spring For The Water Event Committee. For the lives that you’ve touched through your selfless service, we thank you. Left to right: Kelly Patel, Natalie Brown, Emily Ballenger, Kathleen Woodhead, Taylor Matchok, Suellen Carson and Triphine Tuhabonye. Not pictured Nicole Nietschmann and Lucy Lamy.
We are thankful for inkind contributions from Diamonds Direct, Hotel ZaZa, Olamaie, Garage Pizza, Gimme Burger, Butler Pitch & Putt, and Gilbert’s Gazelles.
Continue Exploring Burundi & Clean Water
Understanding where we work in rural Burundi helps explain why clean water systems are so desperately needed in these communities.
Explore the Musinzara-Matana Water System where Maslin visited
See our 2025 Impact Report showing our progress
See a map where all the water systems are located
The celebration may last one evening, but its impact will flow for years to come as new clean water systems bring safe, reliable water to communities across Burundi. Email us at info@gazellefoundation.org to receive an invitation to next year’s gala.
Gazelle Foundation Board of Directors and Executive Director. Left to Right: Peter Rauch, Chad Whited, Maeve Magner, Gilbert Tuhabonye, Courtney Waldren, Ashish Patel, Suellen Carson, Dermot O’Driscoll. Not pictured: Mary Ann Frishman and Dana Page.
