American Water Works Co., the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater
utility company, has announced the company has donated $216,143 to Water For
People through its company-wide 2009 fundraising campaign. More than $140,000
was raised through employee contributions.
In addition, American Water will sponsor Richard Bubien, a call-handling
supervisor in the company’s customer service center in Pensacola, Fla., to
participate in a one-week Water For People Country Tour in Malawi in September.
Bubien was selected at random from a list of employees who contributed a
minimum of $20 per month to the campaign. Water For People Country Tours give
participants the extraordinary opportunity to travel to rural communities for a
first-hand look at sustainable water and sanitation projects in progress, and
the vast difference they are making in people’s lives.
For more than a decade, American Water has supported Water For People, an
international nonprofit organization that supports locally sustainable drinking
water resources, sanitation facilities, and health and hygiene education
programs for people in developing countries.
“I cannot understate Water For People’s tremendous work throughout much of the
developing world in securing quality water and health resources for those who
strongly and urgently need it,” says Ellen Wolf, senior vice president and
chief financial officer of American Water, chair of the company’s 2009 giving
campaign, and a member of Water For People’s board of directors. “Every year,
American Water employees proudly contribute to the important efforts of Water
For People through creative fundraising campaigns and events.”
“Our extensive efforts in response to the world’s water and health concerns are
greatly strengthened through the generous donations from American Water,”
explains Ned Breslin, chief executive officer of Water For People. “American
Water and its employees should be commended for their contribution, which
cannot come at a more important time to address these water and health
concerns.”
American Water has made an annual contribution to Water For People since it was
established 18 years ago, and to date has contributed a total of more than $1.2
million.
Founded in 1991, Water For People is a nonprofit international development
organization that supports safe drinking water and sanitation projects in
developing countries. Water For People partners with communities, local
governments, and other nongovernmental organizations to help people improve
their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable
drinking water resources, improved sanitation facilities, and hygiene education
programs. Water For People supports communities with professional development
advice, financial support and volunteer technical services.
Typical technologies employed include protected spring-fed community water
systems, gravity-fed systems, wells with hand pumps, latrine construction,
operator training and hygiene education. Water For People currently is working
in Latin America, Africa and Asia. In 2008, Water For People supported the
provision of safe and sustainable drinking water resources benefiting 91,722
people in the developing world, sanitation facilities benefiting 92,983, and
hygiene education benefiting 153,843 people.
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and
wastewater utility company.