About
Sawyer Anderson - Author, Artist, Philanthropist, Speaker, Water Warrior
Sawyer Anderson is a 15-year-old girl from West Fargo, ND who has written and illustrated the book, Water Works. Sawyer is the youngest person, and only author, to partner with Wellspring for the World and World Vision in a ‘co-venture cause agreement’ to bring safe, clean water to people in Africa, including some of the most water-impoverished countries in the world.
To date, Sawyer has spoken at 250 different churches, schools, nonprofits, service clubs, businesses, organizations and other groups. She has raised $1.35 million and with the leverage of partnering with Wellspring and World Vision, funded 94 wells and saved 29,000 lives.
Through her American publisher and parents, Sawyer entered into agreements with international publishers for Water Works to be published in Vietnamese by Kim Dong Publishing House and in English in Zambia by New Horizons Press where her book will reach more than 750,000 school children. This brings the messages in Water Works of kid power, girl power, inspiration, faith and philanthropy to three continents – not that typical for a 15-year-old.
Sawyer’s Water Works efforts have been significantly recognized in her school, community and around the globe. Sawyer is the recipient of The Gustav and Margarett Hektner Family Academic Excellence scholarship for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years at Oak Grove Lutheran School in Fargo. In November of 2019 Sawyer was awarded the Mighty Acorn (emerging leader) award at Oak Grove. Just one week prior, Sawyer was awarded a Champion of Charity Award through the FM Raise Your Spirits nonprofit organization, which recognizes and awards individuals that go above and beyond in the Fargo Moorhead community. Sawyer is the youngest award winner to date. In May of 2022, Sawyer received a Shared Values Award for Service and Leadership at Oak Grove. This award was given to one middle school student and was voted on by peers and teachers. Sawyer is the 2021 Prudential Spirit of Community Award recipient for the state of North Dakota, and is a three-time President’s Gold Award volunteer recipient. In July of 2022 Sawyer travelled to Portland, ME to compete in the International American Women of Service pageant, where Sawyer was crowned Young American Women of Service Ambassador. Shortly after, in September of 2022, Sawyer was selected as an International Young Eco-Hero Award winner by Action for Nature. Sawyer was selected from 150 nominations as one of 16 winners from across the globe. In September 2023 Sawyer received another National award. She was named a 2023 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honoree. She was selected as one of 10 honorees and 15 winners announced for 2023. She's the first person from North Dakota to receive the honor. In the spring of 2024 Sawyer was honored by the Fargo Gateway Lions Club to receive the Melvin Jones Fellow award. This award is named after the founder of the Lions Club and is the highest level of distinction awarded by them. Sawyer is the first nonmember and youngest recipient to have ever received the award. Just a few short days later, Sawyer received a global award for her work. Global Water Partnership selected Water Works as a 2023 Water Changemaker Innovation Award winner. There were 300 submissions from over 80 countries, and Sawyer was one of only seven chosen winners. Sawyer won for innovation, diversity and inclusion.
Prior to writing Water Works, Sawyer launched a church-wide water fundraising effort with her church – Hope Lutheran Church in Fargo. After designing, making and auctioning an original Chitenge bag, she challenged hundreds of kids and volunteers in children’s ministry to design, sew and sell more than 1,400 Chitenge bags. Of those, more than 400 have been sold by Sawyer. African wax fabric is a common material used in Africa for Chitenge (or kitenge in some countries) dresses, bags, infant carriers, blankets and more. Sawyer sold and continues to sell the Chitenge bags for $50 each, which represents the cost to provide clean water for one person for a lifetime.
Sawyer is a 10th grader at Oak Grove Lutheran School with a 4.0 GPA, and is active in theatre, dance, volleyball, music and church activities.
Sawyer has an active Facebook page @WaterWorksSEA; Instagram @waterworkssea; and web site at www.WaterWorksSEA.com. More than 14,800 copies of Water Works have been sold, not only bringing water to those without, but with many partnerships with area organizations, numerous sponsors have put Water Works in the hands of thousands in our area who may not have the access or resources.
Sawyer resides in West Fargo, ND with her parents and eight-year-old sister.
