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American Water Charitable Foundation, Missouri American Water Team Up to Provide $25,000 in Grants to COVID-19 Relief Agencies

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Water Charitable Foundation and Missouri American Water have partnered to award $25,000 in grants to non-profit organizations across the state helping communities battle the effects of the ongoing health emergency.

The American Water Charitable Foundation provided $300,000 in grants across the country in communities served by American Waters, with $25,000 coming to Missouri. Each of the Missouri non-profits that received an award experienced an increased demand for their services due to COVID-19. The following organizations received a grant:

- $10,000 to Operation Food Search, providing food assistance throughout the St. Louis region, including to children impacted by school closures
- $2,500 to Pivotal Point Transitional Housing, addressing situational homelessness in St. Joseph
- $2,500 to The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, a foodbank serving 32 counties
- $2,500 to the Boys and Girls Club of Joplin, which provides curbside meal service for children home from school
- $2,500 for The Help Center, which addresses food insecurity in Audrain County
- $1,000 to the Helping Hands Food Pantry, which serves St. Louis County
- $1,000 to Ritenour Co-Care Inc., a food pantry serving more than 1,750 families in the Ritenour school district in St. Louis County
- $1,000 to Link Market, a free grocery store and healthy meal distribution service in St. Louis County
- $1,000 to Second Harvest Community Foodbank, which provides food to those in need in St. Joseph and northwest Missouri
- $1,000 to Bright Futures Joplin, providing school supplies to underprivileged children

“Missouri American Water employees have worked hard to provide safe, clean water and reliable sewer service as this health emergency has unfolded, but the American Water Charitable Foundation recognizes that communities have many other needs as well,” said Debbie Dewey, President of Missouri American Water. “We are proud to partner with the American Water Charitable Foundation to support the communities we serve by providing grants to help address some of these needs, including food, housing, and educational support.”

For the recipients, the grants arrive at a vital time.

“We are a small food pantry serving an area of St. Louis County that has been struck hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and demand for our services has risen significantly over the past two months,” said John Minard, Executive Director of Ritenour Co-Care Inc. “This grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation and Missouri American Water will allow us to feed families whose primary breadwinner has been laid off, or whose school meals ended once classes were canceled. These are some of the most at-risk people in our community, so we are grateful for this grant.”

The grant program was praised by St. Louis County leadership.

“Missouri American Water stepping forward with these grants during the ongoing health crisis sets a wonderful example as a community partner in St. Louis County and across Missouri,” said Hazel Erby, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Office of the St. Louis County Executive Sam Page. “The grants to these nonprofits will ease the burden faced by so many families batting the impact of COVID-19, as well as the burden faced by each nonprofit to do its part in keeping our communities healthy and vibrant.”

Missouri American Water was one of the first water utilities to suspend shut-offs for nonpayment and restore previously disconnected service. Missouri American Water has also suspended late fees until further notice and is working with customers who are experiencing financial hardships, including offering the option to apply for payment programs and its H20 Help to Others payment assistance program. Details are available on the company website at: https://amwater.com/moaw/customer-service-billing/payment-assistance-program.

Missouri American Water

Missouri 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/or wastewater services to approximately 1.5 million people.

With a history dating to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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 being a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. The Foundation helps support American Water employee-identified nonprofit endeavors.

Language:
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Contact:

Brian Russell
Communications Manager
T - 314-996-2239
C - 314-825-3578
Brian.Russell@amwater.com

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