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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Access to safe water protects and saves lives

June 3, 2020

Today 771 million people around the world lack access to safe water. This is a crisis. It’s a women’s crisis, a children’s crisis and it is a global health crisis. Read from former Water.org Director of Strategic Alliances, Nicole Wickenhauser on how access to safe water protects and saves lives.

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Time 100 Talks - 'Water Is PPE.'

May 21, 2020

Co-founders Matt Damon and Gary White explain why clean water is crucial to fighting coronavirus.

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Access to Water is Critical to Curb Disease Spread Today and Build Resiliency for the Future

May 14, 2020

Water.org and WaterEquity sign safe water and sanitation for all Leaders Call to Action on COVID-19.

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UN Global Compact - Global Business Leaders Unite for Water Resilience

March 23, 2020

CEOs of seven global corporations to lead the Water Resilience Coalition, pledging a commitment to collective action and achieving a water resilient future in partnership with a host of organizations, including Water.org.

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BRINK News - There’s a Way to Solve the Global Water Crisis — Investment

March 23, 2020

Gary White shares how investment on every possible level is what will end the water crisis and bring water and sanitation access to all.

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Forbes India - Vedika Bhandarkar: Water woman

March 6, 2020

Water.org's Vedika Bhandarkar is on Forbes India's list of Self Made Women 2020. After a successful first career in banking, Vedika is working to bring safe water and sanitation to those living at the base of the economic pyramid.

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Paying for the Spout: Innovative Financing Could Expand Access to Water

March 2, 2020

No country, region, or city is the same, especially when it comes to its water and sanitation needs. Read how Water.org, WaterEquity and other organizations are using innovative financing to help close the SDG6 financing gap.

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eBella Magazine - Clean Water for All

Feb. 18, 2020

At the Imagine Solutions Conference, CEO & Co-founder Gary White will share stories of Water.org's smart, innovative solutions and why he is confident the global water crisis is solvable.

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Financial inclusion for safe water and sanitation helps women and their families break the cycle of poverty

Feb. 4, 2020

For many people living in poverty, it’s expensive to not have access to water or a toilet. The reality is, in many countries around the world people in poverty pay a very high price for these things. These costs make it harder for families to get out of poverty. Read more from Water.org's President and Chief Operating Officer on how financial inclusion for water and sanitation is changing lives.

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Harpic's Clean Toilet Action Campaign to provide cleaner toilets to Indonesia

Feb. 1, 2020

4.5 million households in Java, Indonesia, still practice open defecation. This prompted Harpic, a toilet cleaner produced and marketed by Reckitt Benckiser, to commit to alleviating the problem of open defecation in Java by 2025.

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Lifestyles Magazine - Water relief from a star

Jan. 6, 2020

As Co-founder of Water.org, Matt Damon's focus includes philanthropy as well as film.

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The water crisis is a women's crisis

Jan. 2, 2020

Access to water and sanitation is a global crisis. It’s also a women’s crisis. The burden of collecting water disproportionately falls to women and girls. To solve the water crisis, we must unlock new sources of capital through innovative financing. Doing so will unleash the power and potential of girls and women globally.

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