Creators from around the world, including one of YouTube’s biggest stars, MrBeast, have joined forces to launch #TeamWater, a fundraiser that will run through August and is dedicated to building quality, clean-water projects.
Newsweek has reached out to a representative for MrBeast for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Globally, more than 2 billion people lacked access to drinking water which is safely managed as of 2022, according to the United Nations. The charity WaterAid says that one in 10 people around the world don’t have access to clean water close to home.
MrBeast—whose real name is James “Jimmy” Donaldson—is one of the most popular content creators in the world, with 419 million subscribers on YouTube. Forbes recently named him the top content creator in the world, reporting earnings of $85 million. His content often involves big-budget, elaborate stunts and charitable acts.
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What To Know
TeamWater went live on August 1. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, MrBeast wrote that “$1 = 1 year of clean water for someone in need. During August, me and countless other creators are going to be attempting to raise $40,000,000 to give 2,000,000 people clean drinking water for decades each!!!”
As of press time, TeamWater’s website states that it has supplied more than 6 million years of water.
Donations from the fundraiser are mainly going to the charity WaterAid, an international nonprofit which builds infrastructure tailored to different communities to help provide water. Additional charity partners include GivePower, DigDeep and the Alok Foundation.
The fundraiser has received massive backing from content creators and celebrities, with more than 3,000 creators involved, including Kai Cenat, the Stokes Twins, Dude Perfect, Hank Green and Gordon Ramsay.
MrBeast told Variety that he contacted “every celebrity influencer on the planet” about participating in the campaign.
YouTube itself is involved too, and has pledged to give $2 million.
MrBeast shared a video kicking off the campaign on August 1. He described the initiative as the “biggest creator collab in history.” As of press time, that video had been viewed more than 33 million times.
On the #TeamWater website, there is a dedicated section explaining how the initiative will work.
It reads, “Delivering water isn’t a quick fix. Water infrastructure like treatment plants and piping is expensive and challenging to maintain. There are many ways to bring clean water to people so that it lasts.
“Whether it’s building networks of pipes, purifying salty water, or harvesting rainwater, #TeamWater will deliver proven, sustainable water solutions where they’re needed most. All projects will be community-led and maintained and built to last.”
What People Are Saying
MrBeast’s account, on the Donate Now section of the YouTube video which launched the fundraiser: “#TeamWater is a creator-led crowdfunding campaign to change millions of lives around the world through access to clean water. Led by MrBeast and Mark Rober, and powered by the biggest team of content creators on the internet, we’re raising $40 million to provide 2 million people with life-changing access to clean water for decades.”
TeamWater, on the Why section of their website: “By 2040, up to 4.5 billion people could be experiencing water scarcity. But the water crisis is solvable. By joining #TeamWater, we will show the world that young people care about people and the planet.”
What’s Next
The fundraiser will be running through the month of August, with content consistently being shared across social media.