Honored to Amplify charity: water

703 million people in the world live without clean water. To put this figure in context, that’s more than twice the population of the United States. And while the scope of the problem can be overwhelming, charity: water has demonstrated that by focusing on the question of how to bring clean water to communities around the world, the answers are incredibly affirming. As the organization has demonstrated since 2006, when a community gets access to clean water, the change is transformative—impacting health, food access, economic opportunity and even education.  

It all started when founder Scott Harrison, then a successful club promoter in NYC, started feeling unfulfilled with a life that was occupied with selling $300 bottles of vodka at the city’s hot spots. He left everything he knew to volunteer as a photojournalist aboard a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia, West Africa. During this experience, he was introduced to poverty unlike anything he’d seen before, and learned about how many of the infections doctors on the hospital ship were treating could have been prevented if only people had access to clean drinking water.  

Since then, charity: water has raised more than $750 million and provided more than 17.4 million people with clean water. It’s also ushered in a new generation of impact, leveraging social media and technology to connect those who can give with those in need, while operating more like a start-up than an older model of charitable organization. The result has activated a younger generation—exactly the people that founder Harrison, in his club days, hoped to motivate.  

 There’s a lot to learn from charity: water, which today has more than a million supporters worldwide who have helped to complete over 137,000 water projects in 29 countries. Vuori is excited to help raise money and awareness for this work and build a partnership that is aligned across shared values. From its public donation model to emphasis on sustainability, charity: water is leading the way for change. Most recently, the organization has energized the global fitness community, making it easy for athletes to raise funds everywhere from the Berlin Marathon to local Water Walks.  

Feeling inspired? Lace up your shoes and track your miles with Vuori and charity: water. Join our challenge on Strava October 18 through November 1. For every mile walked by our community, Vuori will donate 1,100 liters of clean water to those in need. Help us reach our goal of 20,000 miles this fall, and keep an eye on @vuoriclothing for more ways to get involved.