During Climate Week NYC, LEBEC, in partnership with WxL Partners, convened a distinguished panel of global funders and entrepreneurs to discuss innovative approaches to financing climate solutions. Hosted at a private residence in SoHo with food provided by Mercado Little Spain by Chef José Andrés, the intimate gathering brought together an exciting group of philanthropists, brands, and investors, including Olivela, Elevate Prize Foundation, Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation and others. 

The high-impact conversation reinforced the power of innovative financing and cross-sector partnerships in tackling today’s most pressing global challenges, and highlighted the urgency of aligning philanthropic and private capital to address the intertwined challenges of water security, climate resilience, and equity.

Moderated by Alix Lebec, the panel featured Matt Damon, the award-winning actor, screenwriter, producer and co-founder of Water.org and WaterEquity; Thais Lopez Vogel, co-founder and trustee of VoLo Foundation; Yoca Arditi-Rocha, executive director of The CLEO Institute; Amy Dornbusch, founder of AtlasDaughters and director of the Marks Family Foundation; and Vedika Bhandarkar, president and COO of Water.org. 

"We're standing at a critical juncture where the interconnected global water and climate crises demand immediate, innovative action," said Lebec. "The solutions exist—what we lack is the urgency to deploy capital creatively and at scale. We have a full spectrum of financial tools at our disposal, from philanthropy to investments, that can unlock this trillion-dollar opportunity. By strategically investing in women, water infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies, we can realistically address water scarcity, climate change and gender inequality. The time to act is now—every dollar invested today in water and climate solutions can prevent billions in future costs and transform millions of lives."

The event gained national attention, including recognition from Yahoo Finance.