A decade of impact

Everyone deserves access to clean water.

That’s why Waterboys, an initiative of the Chris Long Foundation, mobilizes athletes, sports fans, experts, and partners to help remote and drought-prone communities access clean water and inspire others to make an impact at home and abroad.

For 10 years, Waterboys has invested in the most essential building block there is.

Built by Water is a yearlong celebration of what clean water access makes possible in sports, in life, and in communities around the world. It’s a reminder that every athlete’s performance, every child’s future, every family’s stability, and every thriving community starts with something simple, fundamental, and powerful: water. 

  • One well strengthens families, which strengthens a village.

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  • Water powers performance. One athlete motivates a team. One team inspires a community. One community sparks change.

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  • The impact of clean water goes far beyond a single project; it nurtures crops, expands schools, and powers clinics.

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  • For 10 years, we have been delivering sustainable solutions that will improve livelihoods for generations to come.

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As part of our Built by Water campaign, we’ve set a big goal for 2026: to mobilize funds for ten clean water projects in East Africa and ten in the United States — all focused on expanding clean water access for youth in schools. And every well we drill, every athlete we rally, every supporter who joins the team, sends out a ripple – a ripple of collective action that creates a wave of impact for generations.

 

What’s at stake

Around 785 million people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water. We must go beyond simply quenching short-term thirst. By providing underserved communities with reliable access to clean drinking water, lives and communities are transformed with more equitable opportunities around education, employment, agriculture, and improved health.

As a united front, we can bring life-sustaining drinking water to communities in need. We work with expert partners, who create sustainable solutions that are owned and managed by the communities themselves. As Waterboys marks its 10th anniversary, and as we celebrate a milestone of over 600,000 people served, we’re just getting started. Our goal to provide clean drinking water to one million people in need is within reach. Together, we can cross the finish line.

 

There are big things to come

To kick off our Built By Water campaign, in February, Chris and former NFL player and Green Beret Nate Boyer will co-captain a team of 10 professional athletes, military veterans, and clean water advocates to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro. Through the 10th Conquering Kili climb, our 2026 Conquering Kili cohort will raise funds for at least two solar-powered deep borehole wells in Tanzania, directly supporting thousands of people with reliable access to clean drinking water.

Beyond Kili, we’ve got all sorts of exciting Built By Water activations, special partnership announcements, and athlete-led initiatives in the works, all in support of our mission to get water to one million.

We are thrilled to announce long-time partner Xylem as a major supporter of Built by Water!

 

Join the Team

– Contact us below, or at events@chrislongfoundation.org

– Read our Built by Water launch press release

– Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page

– Follow us on social media at @waterboysorg and @chrislongfoundation

– Directly support Built By Water with a campaign gift


Ten years ago, Waterboys proved that clean water changes everything.

The next decade is about turning progress into permanence — expanding access, strengthening communities, and unlocking opportunity for millions more.

Be part of the next chapter.