WaterStone is in the business of transforming assets into living water. We embrace the challenge of receiving non-traditional assets and enjoy sharing the success stories. The following story is one such success involving the gift of artwork. 

<b>Begin With the Right Palette</b>
Gary and Esther Woodmen (not their real names) own an art gallery that the Lord has abundantly blessed. Being generous givers, the Woodmens decided they would give something they love: artwork from a world-renowned artist whose works the Woodmen’s routinely sell. Their professional advisor, Todd, put them in contact with WaterStone in 2001. 
  
<b>Strokes of Inspiration</b>
Together, Gary and Esther worked with WaterStone to convert their gift of color into streams of living water. At the same time, Gary and Esther set out to find Kingdom opportunities to invest in. After attending a presentation on how to fund the building of water wells in Africa, Gary and Esther decided to invest in the gift of water for those who don’t have access to this most basic necessity. Arrangements were made for WaterStone to transfer the assets to a ministry that could auction the donated artwork and use the proceeds to fund the building of wells.   

<b>Marketing the Joy</b>
Gary and Esther have continued to systematically endow their WaterStone Donor Advised Fund with a goal of donating millions more in assets by 2015. They were inspired by an article in a past WaterStone newsletter to train up the next stewards by involving their family in the giving process. They firmly believe that stewardship is caught, not taught. Now, every Thanksgiving, they gather together their children and “go shoppingâ€—not for Christmas bargains, but for ways to invest in the Kingdom. 

<b>Thirsty, Not Starving, Artists</b>
The thirst for joy slaked by Gary and Esther’s generosity is clearly evident in their countenance as they share about their giving journey. Gary affirms a quote he recently heard and intends to live by: “I don’t think it is a sin to live rich, but it is a sin to die rich.â€ Having successfully utilized WaterStone to help them turn their assets into living water—literally—they will continue to drink deeply from the well of generosity. 
