Society of the Wallace Fountains

Mission – The mission of the Society of the Wallace Fountains is to promote, preserve and protect the iconic Wallace Fountains of Paris. Only two of the beautiful and useful Wallace drinking fountains in Paris are classified as historic monuments, yet all have great social, cultural and historic significance. The Society is dedicated to informing an international audience about the fountains and to generating a critical mass of supporters dedicated to their survival.

Wallace Fountains are symbolic of the best type of public/private partnership for the common good. For 150 years, the fountains, donated by Sir Richard Wallace, have continuously served the public by dispensing free, clean drinking water delivered by the city water department to everyone. When they first appeared on the streets of Paris, they were a blessing to the poor, who rarely had access to affordable clean water and were suffering health consequences as a result.

When they were initially installed in Paris, the acclaim they received encouraged worldwide philanthropy by motivating others to use private wealth to meet pressing human needs. The Society of the Wallace Fountains will honor that tradition by recognizing and encouraging the use of private wealth in partnership for the common good.

Status & Governance – The Society is a nonprofit organization registered as an association under French Law with the legal status of a French “Association Loi 1901”. The Society is governed by an international Board of Directors.

Activities – To educate and inform the public about the Wallace Fountains, the Society engages in a number of activities:

• Maintains this website.
• Publishes a guidebook to the Wallace Fountains of Paris.
• Provides speakers for lectures and conferences.
• Partners with others to produce events, like Wallace Fountains 2022, a celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the first Wallace Fountain in Paris.
• Maintains Social Media platforms to inform and educate.
• Organizes walking tours to find the fountains in Paris.
• Annually presents the Wallace Fountain Award to a philanthropist.

Become a Friend – Membership in Friends of the Wallace Fountains is open to any person interested in supporting the mission of the Society. Your annual membership of 50€ or more is used to fund the activities of the Society, including development and maintenance of this website. Benefits of membership include a quarterly electronic newsletter and invitations to participate in organized walking tours to find Wallace Fountains in Paris and other exclusive Society sponsored events.

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