In order to float a pontoon, water is a vital ingredient. And that’s a necessity the Grammy and CMA award-winning group, Little Big Town, understands all too well.

Water is also vital to the millions in Africa who aren’t in clean supply of it — but Little Big Town and the Blood: Water Mission hope to change all that.

The “Pontoon” singers teamed up with the Blood: Water Mission to headline the Hope in the Dark benefit Wednesday night at the Knoxville Convention Center. By the end of the night, the event raised more than $200,000.

Blood: Water is an organization designed to assist victims of HIV/AIDS and also to aid the water crisis throughout Africa. Hosting the event was Mike Hamilton, a Blood: Water campaign member and former UT athletic director.

Though he resigned from his athletic director position in 2011, Hamilton has found some surprising similarities in his endeavors with the campaign.

“In athletics it’s really about the transformation of lives, the transformation of lives of young people coming to college and taking them into adulthood,” Hamilton said. “In this case, we’re talking about the transformation of people’s lives and in some cases, actually saving their lives in some pretty difficult circumstances in Africa.”

Hamilton not only explained these transformations, but he also explained why Blood: Water was originally formed.

“The organization was originally started by the band Jars of Clay,” he said. “While they were visiting Africa, they saw that if you have a diminished immune system and you had dirty water, it’s a recipe for death.

“So it’s really important for people that are HIV positive to have access to have clean water and to avoid disease.”

But Blood: Water is unlike most mission campaigns in that while they are working to better Africa’s water supply, they’re also partnering with African natives to assist them in the fight against the water and HIV/AIDS crises.

“Our work is all done through African-led, localized partnerships in Africa on the ground,” Hamilton said. “So we’re not a relief organization. We’re actually working in the communities, in the villages in Africa, to help them determine the best solutions for their community. It’s more about partnership rather than charity. We’ve seen that that’s a sustainable model that makes sense in the long run.”

Though changing and assisting lives is the focus of Blood: Water, they’re also aiming to simply get the word out, as their youngest adopted daughter’s name beckons.

“Our youngest child is Kalu,” Hamilton said. “We found out that her name means ‘get the word out’ and was given to her by her birth mom — her birth mom passed away from complications with HIV/AIDS.”

Hamilton shared this along with stories from other members of the campaign who have seen firsthand what it is like to work with the campaign in Africa.

A panel of three Blood: Water members joined Hamilton on stage to talk about their stories.

One campaign member, Susan Cunningham, shared the biggest lesson she learned from her trip to Africa with the crowd.

“I was really struck with how warm and loving these people are,” Cunningham said. “I learned from the trip the true meaning of gratitude. Without gratitude, you really can’t be happy, because if you’re not grateful then there is no happiness. They were very happy people and they were grateful for what they had.”

The night not only gave a vivid depiction of the work the campaign has done in Africa, but it was also a night to raise money for the organization and to enjoy the headlining guests of the evening, Little Big Town.

The band voiced admiration for what the campaign is doing to better the lives of those suffering in Africa.

“You’re changing lives, you’re saving lives and you’re saving generations of lives, so dig deep — it’s important,” band member Kimberly Schlapman said.

To further support the campaign, cards were placed on each table with the option for guests to donate a one-time or monthly amount to the campaign. The generous help and funds donated by the attendees of the event were evident Wednesday night, and the members of Little Big Town were among the many witness to the campaign’s work.

“It’s our pleasure to be here tonight and to do a real small part in the big picture of what you guys are doing,” band member Karen Fairchild said. “One of the ways we get to matter, I think, for people is finding songs that mean something to them and that moves them the way that songs can.”

And Little Big Town did just that, with a combination of smooth, vocally-amazing, and meaningful ballads, as well as some boot-stomping, upbeat tunes like their hit summertime anthem, “Pontoon.” Rounding out their repertoire with a soulful cover of the classic song “Elvira”, Little Big Town delivered entertainment and a night the crowd will hardly forget.

To end the evening, Hamilton gave his thanks and left the crowd with one last request.

“And guys — go to Africa with us. Go to Africa with us. It will change your life, I promise.”

For more information on Blood: Water, go to bloodwater.org.