American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water Donate $30,000 for Reusable Bottle Filling Stations in Camden City School District Cafeterias
Water filling stations in 18 schools aim to reduce bottled water usage and encourage choosing water over other beverages as part of Full Futures School Nutrition Partnership
CAMDEN, N.J. – May 17, 2023 – The American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF), a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, and New Jersey American Water, announced today that the Foundation provided a $25,000 state strategic grant and New Jersey American Water has provided over $5,000 to fund reusable bottle filling stations in cafeterias throughout the Camden City School District (CCSD), as part of an effort to improve students’ access to water for drinking and reduce the usage of bottled water.
The funds are being used for cafeteria bottle filling stations to replace old drinking water fountains for students in 18 CCSD schools, serving nearly 6,000 students, faculty and staff. A portion of the funds is also being used to provide a reusable water bottle to each student enrolled in the schools. The bottle filling stations are being leased and maintained through a contract agreement with DS Business Life Simplified. Installation began in March should be completed by the end of May.
Funding for this project was made possible through AWCF’s State Strategic Impact grant program which was launched in 2022 to help support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American Water’s regulated and regulated-like footprint. State Strategic Impact grants are part of AWCF’s Keep Communities Flowing grant program, focused on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities.
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with the American Water Charitable Foundation and provide funding for these reusable bottle filling stations that will enable the district to promote the increased use of water for hydration among students, as well as reduce the amount of money they are spending on bottled water,” said Mark McDonough, President, New Jersey American Water and Board Member, American Water Charitable Foundation. “No student, teacher, faculty member, or Camden resident should have to pay for bottled water when the tap water being provided meets all quality standards and is available for about a penny per gallon, versus anywhere from 86 cents to more than $8 a gallon.”
“Funding from the American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water will support a much-needed investment that will encourage our students and staff to choose water for hydration throughout the school day over other beverage choices that are potentially less healthy and higher in sugar and calories,” said Superintendent of Camden Schools Katarina T. McCombs. “Moreover, this program significantly reduces the district’s current spending for bottled water, which creates opportunities to invest in other school programs and initiatives.”
“Once again, American Water is providing meaningful investment in our shared community. Not only do they invest in their infrastructure that treats and delivers our water every day, but they are helping our children make a healthy beverage choice, while helping our schools reduce the amount of money spent on bottled water, and helping encourage people to stop using and discarding single-use plastic bottles that end up littering our streets and waterways,” said Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “I encourage every Camden resident to learn the benefits of using reusable bottles to drink tap water instead of single-use, plastic bottled water and make the switch at school and at home. It’s more economical and more eco-friendly.”
This initiative is part of New Jersey American Water’s participation in Full Futures: A School Nutrition Partnership, a program launched by Campbell Soup Company and nearly a dozen non-profit and corporate partners in 2021. In partnership with the Camden City School District, Full Futures is working to advance school nutrition to ensure that all students are well-nourished and ready to thrive at school and in life. New Jersey American Water is a partner in the program, with particular focus on improvements in food service infrastructure to ensure the district has the resources to prepare and serve nutritious meals.
“We are excited to have New Jersey American Water as a partner in our Full Futures school nutrition work,” said Kate Barrett, President of the Campbell Soup Foundation. “Through this generous donation, New Jersey American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation are supporting water access that not only promotes healthy hydration but also enables fresh food preparation. These advancements will have long-lasting benefits for students in Camden.”
Campbell is the primary funder of Full Futures. Core partners in this effort include the Camden City School District, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Center for Family Services, The Common Market, Food Bank of South Jersey, Wellness in the Schools, Whitsons Culinary Group, and New Jersey American Water.
About American Water Charitable Foundation
The American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf and follow the American Water Charitable Foundation on Facebook.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
CAMDEN, N.J. – May 17, 2023 – The American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF), a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, and New Jersey American Water, announced today that the Foundation provided a $25,000 state strategic grant and New Jersey American Water has provided over $5,000 to fund reusable bottle filling stations in cafeterias throughout the Camden City School District (CCSD), as part of an effort to improve students’ access to water for drinking and reduce the usage of bottled water.
The funds are being used for cafeteria bottle filling stations to replace old drinking water fountains for students in 18 CCSD schools, serving nearly 6,000 students, faculty and staff. A portion of the funds is also being used to provide a reusable water bottle to each student enrolled in the schools. The bottle filling stations are being leased and maintained through a contract agreement with DS Business Life Simplified. Installation began in March should be completed by the end of May.
Funding for this project was made possible through AWCF’s State Strategic Impact grant program which was launched in 2022 to help support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American Water’s regulated and regulated-like footprint. State Strategic Impact grants are part of AWCF’s Keep Communities Flowing grant program, focused on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities.
“We are thrilled to be able to partner with the American Water Charitable Foundation and provide funding for these reusable bottle filling stations that will enable the district to promote the increased use of water for hydration among students, as well as reduce the amount of money they are spending on bottled water,” said Mark McDonough, President, New Jersey American Water and Board Member, American Water Charitable Foundation. “No student, teacher, faculty member, or Camden resident should have to pay for bottled water when the tap water being provided meets all quality standards and is available for about a penny per gallon, versus anywhere from 86 cents to more than $8 a gallon.”
“Funding from the American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water will support a much-needed investment that will encourage our students and staff to choose water for hydration throughout the school day over other beverage choices that are potentially less healthy and higher in sugar and calories,” said Superintendent of Camden Schools Katarina T. McCombs. “Moreover, this program significantly reduces the district’s current spending for bottled water, which creates opportunities to invest in other school programs and initiatives.”
“Once again, American Water is providing meaningful investment in our shared community. Not only do they invest in their infrastructure that treats and delivers our water every day, but they are helping our children make a healthy beverage choice, while helping our schools reduce the amount of money spent on bottled water, and helping encourage people to stop using and discarding single-use plastic bottles that end up littering our streets and waterways,” said Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “I encourage every Camden resident to learn the benefits of using reusable bottles to drink tap water instead of single-use, plastic bottled water and make the switch at school and at home. It’s more economical and more eco-friendly.”
This initiative is part of New Jersey American Water’s participation in Full Futures: A School Nutrition Partnership, a program launched by Campbell Soup Company and nearly a dozen non-profit and corporate partners in 2021. In partnership with the Camden City School District, Full Futures is working to advance school nutrition to ensure that all students are well-nourished and ready to thrive at school and in life. New Jersey American Water is a partner in the program, with particular focus on improvements in food service infrastructure to ensure the district has the resources to prepare and serve nutritious meals.
“We are excited to have New Jersey American Water as a partner in our Full Futures school nutrition work,” said Kate Barrett, President of the Campbell Soup Foundation. “Through this generous donation, New Jersey American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation are supporting water access that not only promotes healthy hydration but also enables fresh food preparation. These advancements will have long-lasting benefits for students in Camden.”
Campbell is the primary funder of Full Futures. Core partners in this effort include the Camden City School District, Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Center for Family Services, The Common Market, Food Bank of South Jersey, Wellness in the Schools, Whitsons Culinary Group, and New Jersey American Water.
About American Water Charitable Foundation
The American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf and follow the American Water Charitable Foundation on Facebook.
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.