By Kristi Heim

There's a point at which a cluster of organizations working on a problem starts to feel like more than the sum of its parts. That kind of multiplier effect fueled Silicon Valley's technology innovation for decades.

Is it also starting to help Seattle gain traction solving problems in world health?

When people in their twenties decide to throw a party to fight rotavirus, and more than 500 guests show up (with 200 more on the waiting list), something new is taking hold.

"We can change the world every day, in everything we do, even partying!" was the optimistic mantra.

Who knew that one event in Seattle could help a country achieve a national health goal? (The event raised $13,000, enough money to fund Kenya's oral rehydration program). Who knew that childhood diarrhea would be the topic of conversation at a cocktail party?

"Diarrhea Happens" was the way one of the hosts, Anne DeMelle, summed it up in a Facebook entry for Party with a Purpose. "It's true - it happens even to the best of us. For a half a million children around the world every year this seemingly benign condition is caused by a preventable virus and kills them. But it doesn't have to."

Lacey Birk, 25, said she and roommate Kristen Eddings knew rotavirus was a good cause. Though they wondered: "Are we really ready to talk about diarrhea with all these people?"

Read the entire article