K&K Plumbing Owner Assists African Village by Providing a Water Well

A Plaque Thousands of Miles From Stark County

The plaque mounted on the well in Mtambo, a village of about 1,000 people, lists five donors who helped pay for the project. Kashdan's name sits at the top.

His involvement began with a chance meeting. In August 2013, Kashdan attended a seminar led by Tony Robbins, the well-known author, businessman and life coach. There he met Cindee Rood, a California resident who described her work helping charitable groups bring wells to needy villages in Malawi, and her goal of starting an organization of her own.

"It's What My Heart Told Me to Do"

Kashdan made the first donation to help Rood get started. Explaining his decision, he said, "I make my money off of water. If I can't give water to people who don't have it, who am I?" He added, "It's what my heart told me to do."

Rood combined his contribution with gifts from others and formed Formidable Joy. The organization drilled its first well in Mtambo, the one that now carries the plaque.

From Queens to Ohio

Kashdan's road to Stark County was not a straight one. He was born in Queens, New York, and lived in Brooklyn before his family moved on to Texas. He has said his family was poor and moved often when he was growing up.

In the early 1990s he settled in Stark County, and he has stayed ever since. He began working as a plumber here and went on to open his own business, K&K Plumbing, which operates today from the Osnaburg Township area east of Canton.

• Born in Queens, New York
• Lived in Brooklyn, then Texas, as the family moved often
• Arrived in Stark County in the early 1990s
• Started as a plumber and later opened K&K Plumbing

Modest Needs, Big Impact

Kashdan does not describe the gift as a grand gesture. "I don't require much to live, so why not just help?" he said. "It's just an amazing thing to give back."

For a village that once lacked a dependable water source, the result is a working well and a daily supply of fresh water. For a plumber who has spent his career connecting homes to water, it is a fitting way to share what that work has provided.

Learn More or Get Involved

Read about the charity itself and how to donate on our Giving Back: From Ohio to Africa page. To learn more about the company Kashdan built, visit our About page.