American Water Honored For Community Service Excellence in South Jersey

VOORHEES, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Water (NYSE: AWK), the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, today announced that it is receiving the Corporate Excellence Award from The Volunteer Center of South Jersey. This award honors a socially responsible company for its exemplary commitment to service in the community by engaging employees and devoting resources to support local non-profits and help those in need in South Jersey.

“American Water communities are the foundation of our business,” said William Varley, senior vice president, Northeast Division and president, New Jersey American Water. “They are where our employees live, work and raise their families. Our communities provide a support network and deep connections that contribute to the quality of life that each of us enjoys. For all they provide, we feel it is our responsibility to give back and support them through a commitment to service.”

While the company encourages community involvement year-round, during the month of September, American Water runs its companywide employee volunteer initiative, AmerICANs In Action! Month of Service, for which employees participate in different community projects in the company’s service areas. This year, in South Jersey alone, 650 employees from American Water and two of its subsidiaries, New Jersey American Water and American Water Enterprises, participated in approximately 25 different community volunteer projects and gave 1,000 hours of their time just in September.

Some of the projects include:

• Employees participated in several different volunteer projects with Respond Inc. in Camden City.
• Employees participated in a trail maintenance and clean-up at the Black Run Preserve, which is an undeveloped, 1,200 acre "green acres" site in Marlton.
• Many employees sorted and packed food at the Food Bank of South Jersey.
• Several employees assisted in building a Habitat for Humanity house in Riverside.
• Many employee groups performed various tasks for the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey in Camden.
• Some employees stained a 6-foot fence around the property of a Bancroft Group home and cleaned up the property grounds, while others helped set up for a "Bancroft Night at the Boardwalk" fundraiser in Cherry Hill.
• Employees provided 300 lunches for guests at Cathedral Kitchen located in Camden.
• Employees volunteered at the Animal Adoption Center in Lindenwold.
• Some employees played BINGO with senior citizens at Emeritus Senior Living in Voorhees.
• Approximately 100 employees volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Gloucester County.
• A group of employee volunteers participated in a clean-up of Kirkwood Lake in Voorhees.
• Several volunteers spent time constructing obstacles and a course for the Special Olympics-New Jersey Battle the Beach event in Wildwood.
• A group of employees volunteered at the Battleship New Jersey in Camden.

In addition to these volunteer activities, as the state’s largest investor-owned water utility company, New Jersey American Water regularly provides water education programs to communities. New Jersey American Water's Puddle's Mobile Water Van supplies fresh, ice-cold water to dozens of community events throughout South Jersey, and its Speakers Bureau provides water education and information to schools, senior homes and many other venues in South Jersey throughout the year.

“Whether it’s participating in volunteer events, serving on the boards of local organizations, donating to company-sponsored giving events, or using our talents and skills in the community, we seek to make a positive difference every day,” added Varley.

The award will be presented at The Volunteer Center of South Jersey’s 4th Annual "Spirit of Community" Celebration on October 23, 2014. This event brings the entire community together to honor volunteers as well as non-profit and corporate leaders, whose dedicated service makes a difference in South Jersey.

About American Water

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,600 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 40 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found at www.amwater.com.

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