Matt Damon Joins the Water Cause

Celebrity is a kind of capital. If you’re famous, and especially if you’re sexy and famous, your name easily brings money and media attention of the sort other nonprofits struggle to obtain to your chosen charity.

The sexy, famous, and talented Mr. Damon has used his celebrity to advance causes linked to poverty, which has led him to an interest in safe drinking water.

Today, Matt Damon announced a merger of an organization he co-founded, H2O Africa, with the global group WaterPartners to form Water.org.

Damon’s role is largely ceremonial, with the former director of WaterPartners, Gary White, staying on to head up Water.org. Damon explained, “As a clear leader in the sector at delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for those in need, WaterPartners was the natural choice with whom to work to truly affect lasting change.”

As for his interest in water? “Every 15 seconds,” Damon says, “a child in the developing world dies from water-related disease.” Indeed, the new group’s website says a billion people are without safe water.

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Source: San Francisco Gate