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3,629 people have died from heat in Maricopa County since 2014. The federal funding that finally brought the number down expires after the 2026 heat season, with no replacement identified. Hydrate PHX exists to fill that gap. We distribute free water at the Heat Relief Network and at community events across Phoenix, funded by local business sponsors. Zero cost to the people who need it. Zero questions asked.

A group of Phoenix residents looked at the data and could not look away. 3,629 heat deaths in a decade. 44 consecutive days where someone died. 77% outdoors. Nearly half experiencing homelessness. And the ARPA funding that expanded cooling centers, extended hours, and provided transportation to relief sites — the funding that finally brought the death toll down for the first time in a decade — expires after 2026 with no replacement identified. Hydrate PHX was built by people who decided that was unacceptable. Not backed by a board of wealthy donors. Built from scratch by concerned citizens who see the progress being undone and believe the people of Phoenix deserve better.

Hydrate PHX, Inc. is an Arizona nonprofit corporation (EIN 41-5111896), incorporated March 18, 2026. Governed by a three-member board of directors with adopted conflict of interest, whistleblower protection, document retention, and social media policies. Hydrate PHX is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (effective March 18, 2026). Donations are tax-deductible charitable contributions. Consult your tax advisor about the tax treatment of your specific contribution.

In Phoenix's heat, plastic is a health risk, not just an environmental one. PET plastic bottles leach chemicals — including endocrine disruptors — when exposed to high temperatures. At 110°F and above, that is not theoretical. Studies have found microplastic contamination in the majority of tested bottled water brands. Reusing single-use plastic bottles accelerates bacterial growth and chemical migration.

The cartons we produce are paper-based aseptic — no BPA, no plastic leaching, no microplastics in the carton itself. They're shelf-stable without refrigeration, built from FSC-certified renewable paperboard with natural inks, and have a lower carbon footprint than plastic or aluminum production. The flat panels also give sponsors more visible acknowledgment surface than a curved bottle, which is what makes the sponsor funding model work.

Natural spring water sourced from Shasta Springs, California. BPA-free packaging. FSC-certified, 90%+ renewable paperboard with natural inks. The water has a pH of 7.8 with naturally occurring minerals including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Total dissolved solids: 69 parts per million. This is the same production infrastructure that serves hospitality brands like Four Seasons, Sofitel, and Calvin Klein — high-quality water in packaging designed for it.

Volunteers hand out water directly at outdoor events, city cooling centers, heat relief sites, and high-traffic areas like bus stops during peak heat season. No eligibility checks, no paperwork, no questions. If you're outside in the heat and you want water, you get water.

Yes. Aseptic cartons are accepted by most municipal recycling programs. They are primarily paperboard with thin layers of polyethylene and aluminum for shelf stability. Two-year shelf life.

Your business funds the production of water cartons. Your name and logo are acknowledged on every carton. We handle production, logistics, and distribution. You receive a written acknowledgment of your contribution, and your name appears on our website, social media, and event signage. The community gets free water. See our Sponsors page for the full breakdown.

On-carton sponsorship starts at $12,000 per production run (50,000 cartons). Your cartons are distributed across events and relief sites throughout heat season. If you're interested in supporting Hydrate PHX but not ready for on-carton sponsorship, our Supporter program starts at $1,000 with website, social media, and event signage acknowledgment. Let's talk about what fits your goals.

Hydrate PHX is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit. Sponsorship contributions may qualify as charitable gifts or qualified sponsorship payments under IRC § 513(i). We provide the written documentation your accountant will need. Consult your tax advisor for the treatment of your specific payment.

Every dollar goes toward the mission and toward keeping it alive. That means water production, transport to Phoenix distribution sites, event logistics, volunteer coordination, and the operational costs of running a nonprofit — insurance, filing, storage, accounting. We don't have paid staff and we don't have an office. We publish reports on our Transparency page showing exactly how funds are used.

Visit our Donate page to give securely online. One-time and monthly gifts are both supported, and you’ll receive a written acknowledgment for your records.

Hydrate PHX is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible charitable contributions. We provide written acknowledgment for every gift. Consult your tax advisor about the treatment of your specific contribution.

We publish reports showing how funds were used: water distributed, events served, and distribution records. Once we have financials to report, they go on our Transparency page. This is not a promise we'll get to eventually. It's the foundation the org is built on. If we can't show you where your money went, we don't deserve it.

On a case-by-case basis. If you can offer logistics support, transportation, event space, or other resources that directly support water distribution, let's talk.

Three roles: distribute water (hand water to people at events and relief sites), setup and logistics (load, transport, organize distribution points, help track distribution counts), or community outreach (share heat safety info, connect people with cooling centers). Pick the role that fits you. Full details on our Get Involved page.

No. If you can hand someone water, you're qualified. We provide everything: water, supplies, a brief orientation, and on-site coordination. You bring closed-toe shoes, sun protection, and yourself.

2 to 4 hour shifts. Multiple time slots per event. No long-term commitment — sign up for one event or every event, your call.

Check our Events page for upcoming distribution dates and volunteer opportunities. Subscribe to get notified when signups open.

Every statistic on this site comes from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health heat surveillance program. The primary source is the 2024 Final Heat-Related Deaths Report, published May 2025. We present this data to raise awareness — we did not collect it. Our homepage presents the full decade of verified data with source links for every number.

Maricopa County runs cooling centers. The Crisis Response Network provides shelter services. Other nonprofits work on advocacy and policy. All of that matters. But none of it puts water in someone's hand at a bus stop at 3pm when it's 115 degrees. That's the specific gap Hydrate PHX fills: free water at the point of outdoor exposure, funded by sponsors so it costs the community nothing. It's not a replacement for systemic solutions — it's the intervention that keeps someone hydrated while those solutions are being built. And the federal funding that expanded most of those systemic solutions expires after 2026.