Asia Pacific & Middle East (APME) hyperscale data centre specialist, AirTrunk, has announced that one of its social impact partners, Gravity Water, won first prize in the Blackstone Gives Back Challenge at Blackstone’s 2025 CEO Conference. The award includes a US$500,000 grant to scale Gravity Water’s mission of turning rain into safe water for schools in need.
The Challenge helps Blackstone portfolio companies amplify their philanthropic efforts using the scale and resources of Blackstone. This year, Blackstone doubled its grant pool to US$1 million, receiving more than 30 nonprofit nominations, with AirTrunk’s Gravity Water submission taking the top spot.
Gravity Water specialises in rainwater harvesting, water treatment, and climate education, building climate resilience for vulnerable communities. The grant will enable Gravity Water to expand its impact to hundreds more schools, providing over 300,000 children and community members with reliable access to clean water for decades.
Robin Khuda, AirTrunk Founder & CEO, said: “Water is fundamental to life, yet millions across Asia still lack safe access. AirTrunk partners with Gravity Water to drive real change through innovation, collaboration, uplifting communities, and building long-term resilience. This grant will scale the work we’ve started in Johor Bahru – amplifying our social impact program and delivering clean water to thousands more students. Congratulations Gravity Water and thank you to the Blackstone Charitable Foundation for helping turn ambition into impact.”
Danny Wright, Gravity Water Founder & Executive Director, said: “This generous grant will help us expand safe water access for more than 300,000 people and provide secure, sustainable, climate-resilient water systems for vulnerable communities for decades to come. This is the most significant moment since our founding and strengthens our long-term impact. Thank you AirTrunk and thank you Blackstone.”
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation has run seven annual Gives Back Challenges for its employees and last year launched this new edition for its portfolio companies.
The grant amplifies AirTrunk’s partnership with Gravity Water through its globally pioneering social impact program – transforming sustainable finance into long-term, community-driven impact across the regions where AirTrunk operates. In Malaysia, AirTrunk and Gravity Water are installing water systems in 65 schools in Johor Bahru, giving thousands of students clean, safe water every day.
Also, this year, in the Ignite Your Impact session at AirTrunk’s annual employee conference – AirTrunk Connect – Gravity Water pitched on stage to over 400 AirTrunkers alongside two other social impact partners. Each AirTrunker was given A$1,000 from the Social Impact Fund to allocate to their charity of choice. AirTrunk then elevated the initiative with a hackathon and 10-week skilled volunteering program, leveraging AirTrunker skills and expertise to help Gravity Water and other partners solve real world challenges.
To learn more about AirTrunk’s social impact program and partnership with Gravity Water, watch this video: