Papazzio Bartender to Donate Tips to Group That Provides Clean Water to the Needy

A bartender at Bayside’s Papazzio Restaurant will donate all the tips she receives on April 10 to a project that helps provide fresh water to impoverished communities around the world.

Whitestone mixologist Mimi Burnham is participating in the “Just One Shift” fundraiser through the Wine to Water project, which is a non-profit aid organization that has helped pay for clean water and sanitation in India, Sudan, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Haiti.

“For $500, you can pay for a well in Cambodia that serves 200 people,” said Burnham, who has worked at Papazzio for two years. “As a bartender, I realize that water is very important. We tend to be wasteful with ice and washing. So, this is a way we can give back a tiny bit.”

Bartenders across the city – but mostly in Manhattan – and the nation will take part in the Wine to Water project during the next week.

Participating bartenders will choose one shift during which they will donate their tips to the cause. Burnham’s shift will be on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to midnight.

She said she became interested in donating to the project after reading a statistic regarding deaths related to unclean water.

“The statistic that got me was when I saw that children die more from water-related illness than from AIDS, measles and malaria combined,” she said. “That’s a frightening statistic when you put it into perspective. Every 20 seconds, a kid dies from a water-related disease.”

Burnham said she does not know specifically which nation will receive the money she raises.

“I’m hoping to raise $200 to $300,” she said. “I’m hoping people will give a little extra.”

Papazzio is located at 39-38 Bell Blvd.