News, Press & Perspectives

Find the latest news and press releases about our work in the water and sanitation sector below. 

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Elevate Prize Catalyst Award
ABC - Can celebrities influence environmental issues? Experts weigh in.

April 22, 2024

ABC's Julia Jacobo spoke with Co-founder Matt Damon about the scale of the water crisis and its intrinsic relationship with climate change.

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Gary and Matt, ABC
ABC - Power of Water: Mexico’s water warriors

April 19, 2023

ABC News’ Linsey Davis travels to Mexico to see firsthand the silent water crisis happening around the world, and speaks with Co-founder Matt Damon about his push to get access to clean water for all.

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A woman in Ethiopia walks to get water
Fortune - Climate change is exacerbating the global water crisis. Corporations must be part of the solution

March 22, 2023

771 million people around the world don't have access to safe water. 1.7 billion do not have a toilet. But there are solutions that work.

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Vedika and Matt at Forbes
Forbes - 2024 Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit: The Worth of Water

Oct. 11, 2024

Forbes Senior Editor Amy Feldman sits down with Matt Damon, Cofounder of Water.org & WaterEquity, and Vedika Bhandarkar, President & COO of Water.org, to discuss how they've utilized microloans to help over 69 million people get access to clean water, the impact of climate change on water access, and much more.

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Climate Resilience in the Water Sector
Impact Entrepreneur - Financial Innovations for Climate Resilience in the Water Sector

Oct. 8, 2024

Building resilience to climate change requires accessible financial solutions like microfinance. Learn more from Water.org President & COO, Vedika Bhandarkar, on how these tools help families secure safe water and sanitation in the face of climate change.

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Matt at Forbes Sustainability Summit
Forbes - Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit: Fast-Tracking Climate Crisis Solutions

Sept. 30, 2024

Matt Damon, co-founder of Water.org, discusses the importance of access to safe water and how the organization has helped 69 million people through microfinance solutions. Read more from Damon and Water.org President & COO, Vedika Bhandarkar, on the relationship between climate crisis and the water crisis, shared at the 2024 Forbes Sustainability Leaders Summit.

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Global Citizen - Billions of People Won't Have Access to Water or a Toilet This Holiday Season

Dec. 20, 2019

It’s the holiday season. Conversations about who will host which gathering are in full swing. Imagine if some of the considerations were whether the host family has access to running water, or if they could offer guests a toilet.

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The Hill - Water.org is finding solutions to a dire problem

Nov. 28, 2019

“Looking ahead, access to water will be one of the most critical challenges of our time,” says co-founder Matt Damon. “The good news is that there are solutions that work.”

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CSIS - Channeling Financial Flows for Urban Water and Sanitation

Nov. 27, 2019

From the Center for Strategic & International Studies, "Increasing the amount of financing available to citizens in low- and middle-income countries will allow them to take out loans in order to purchase toilets and water purification systems for their homes. One of the leaders in providing these microfinance solutions is Water.org."

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Water documentary featuring Matt Damon and Gary White premieres in Los Angeles

Nov. 27, 2019

Featuring Matt Damon, Gary White, Jaden Smith and other pioneers in the water sector, the Brave Blue World documentary paints an optimistic picture of how humanity is adopting new technologies and innovations to re-think how we manage water.

Watch the trailer
Danone-AQUA and Water.org Push for Increased Access to Water

Nov. 21, 2019

Since 2016, this collaboration has supported 3 financial institutions in Central Java and East Java, Indonesia to distribute water and sanitation loans in 33 villages.

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Water.org partners with The BBVA Microfinance Foundation to provide access to safe water in Peru

Nov. 18, 2019

BBVA Microfinance Foundation and Water.org are working to bring access to safe water and sanitation to rural and peri-urban homes in Peru.

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Seeing the people we empower through a different lens

Nov. 8, 2019

Traveling around the world reveals we are more alike than different, however one thing stands out. Many people we meet lack access to safe water and sanitation. Read more from Benjamin Heath, a photographer who has supported our work for more than five years.

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Raconteur - Millions without water could pay for taps and toilets with affordable financing

Nov. 6, 2019

We believe that hundreds of millions of people who lack basic water services could pay for their own tap and toilet solutions if they simply had access to affordable financing.

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Web Summit 2019 - Collaborating to end the water crisis

Nov. 4, 2019

Gary White joins Jaden Smith, founder of JUST water, and Paul O'Callaghan, founder of BlueTech Research, at Web Summit 2019 to share how Water.org provides innovative financial solutions to end the global water crisis.

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SOCAP19 - Jennifer Schorsch on Building and Scaling an Impact Organization

Oct. 29, 2019

Water.org President Jennifer Schorsch shares her experience and what it takes to build and scale an organization that makes a big impact. Be clear on your purpose, aggressively innovate, fail forward and more.

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Micron Helps Water.org Connect 10,000 People in Need of Safe Water

Oct. 24, 2019

Micron Technology, Inc. will provide a $125,000 grant to Water.org. The grant from the Micron Foundation will give approximately 10,000 people access to safe water and sanitation and expand the reach of Water.org’s solution, empowering people through access to affordable financing.

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Innovation in Water and Sanitation Financing Funds more than 190,000 Loans in Indonesia

Oct. 9, 2019

Through loans distributed by Water.org's financial institution partners in Indonesia, more than 750,000 people now have access to water and sanitation.

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