DENVER, CO, Apr. 24, 2009 -- Water For People, an international, nonprofit development organization dedicated to addressing global water, sanitation and hygiene challenges, awarded $24,000 to organizations addressing the needs for water and sanitation in the Dominican Republic. The awards were made at a conference in Santo Domingo that they hosted. The conference brought together over 15 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that presented some of the water and sanitation needs in the Dominican Republic and how Water For People and others can help address them. The awards were presented to eight NGOs for their sustainable programs. The conference was the first step in Water For People's plan to work in the Dominican Republic.