SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Spanish Fort High School Toros are known for their competitive spirits, and that’s exactly what organizers of a grassroots outreach mission are banking on.

Dig Deep Give Well, a Daphne-based nonprofit committed to building wells in rural Africa, certainly didn’t begin as a competition-driven fundraiser, but during the past several months it has become glaringly apparent that nothing spurs participation among Baldwin County students quite like a little good-spirited rivalry.

Lisa Brodie, who founded the nonprofit with her husband Curtis and two other families in February 2010, addressed SFHS May 3, encouraging students to consider the impact their seemingly small contributions can have on impoverished nations for whom necessities such as water are so scarce.

Within one week, the high school students had outpaced current record holder Fairhope Intermediate School’s nearly $1,800 by more than $200.

“Kids are just so passionate about stuff, and this has just become so much bigger than any of us expected, but I’m not sure why we’re surprised. When you ask God to make something bigger, He does,” said Alison Hill, who serves on the Dig Deep Give Well board of directors alongside her husband Marc. The Hills have three daughters in Spanish Fort schools, the eldest of which is planning to travel to Tanzania this summer with the organization.

Hill said SFHS Principal Marty McRae was considering extending the fundraiser — that primarily comprised T-shirt and bracelet sales along with direct monetary donations — until Friday.

Brodie said the competition was sparked in late March by Spanish Fort Middle School Principal Craig Ross, who issued a challenge to other schools across the county after his students raised more than $1,300, primarily in pennies.

With the school year winding down, however, Hill said fundraising efforts will soon shift to a focus on vacation Bible schools, and a consignment sale organized by Brodie June 1-4 for which all proceeds will benefit the cause.

“We have several students from area high schools going to Africa with us this summer. Out of our team of 15, there will be nine students representing Fairhope High School, Spanish Fort High School, Bayside Academy and Central Christian School,” Brodie said.

Her research indicates an estimated 884 million people worldwide lack access to safe water supplies and more than 3.5 million die annually from water-related diseases.

“More than the challenge of competition, these students are moved by the fact that something we take for granted, a drink of clean water when we’re thirsty, isn’t even a possibility for many other children around the world,” Brodie said.

Of course, the movement is not directed at students exclusively.

Dig Deep Give Well will host its first “Cajun Draw Down” May 21 at St. Paul ’s Episcopal Church in Daphne, featuring live music, drinks, dinner and dancing. In addition, ticket holders are entered to win a $5,000 cash prize in the draw down. For more information or tickets contact Brodie at 251-490-0331 or  brodiebunch@bellsouth.net.

Specifically, Dig Deep Give Well was created to provide the “living water of Jesus Christ” as well as “clean, healthy water to those in great need.”

“More than 80 percent of all disease can be eliminated by just having clean water. In the village we’re going to this summer women walk more than seven miles a day to retrieve water,” said Hill, noting it takes about $15,000 to install an average-depth well.