[May 22, 2015] |
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American Water Charitable Foundation Awards $400,000 to Support Local Nature-Based Play Spaces
The American
Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
created by American Water, the nation's largest publicly traded water
and wastewater utility company, has provided three grants to underwrite
local nature-based play spaces across American Water's nationwide
service areas. The grants are being administered as part of the
Foundation's partnership with the National
Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), for the Building Better
Communities signature grant program. NRPA directly administers the
program, with funding made possible by the American Water Charitable
Foundation.
The Building Better Communities philanthropy initiative is
designed to enhance the quality of life in the communities the company
serves. The program is initially focusing on parks, as they are critical
to preserving natural resources that have real economic benefits for
communities. Specifically, the program concentrates on building or
enhancing nature-based playgrounds and natural play spaces for children,
and will connect and educate people on environmental stewardship
practices related to water.
Of the 117 applications received, a total of three projects from within
American Water's national service area were selected to receive grants
totaling $400,000. The projects were chosen based on several criteria
including play value, education value, proximity to American Water's
service areas, relevance of the project to the RFP project parameters,
use of natural play materials, opportunities for American Water employee
volunteer involvement and construction of an actual children's play area.
The grant recipients are as follows:
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Magic Island in Charleston, W.Va. will receive $150,000 to
construct a children's spray and/or splash pad utilizing a
recirculating system. This project will introduce an interactive water
feature to a park that has its genesis in the natural process of silt
deposition at the confluence of two rivers.
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Washington "Reed" Park in Gary, Ind. will receive $125,000 to
develop a nature-based playground that integrates educational play
about stormwater, as well as functions as green infrastructure to slow
and cleanse the water returning to Lake Michigan, Grand Calumet and
Little Calumet Rivers.
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Von Neida Park in Camden, N.J. will receive $125,000 to design
and construct a natural playscape in the park. The majority of the
design will be allocated to personalizing the play area to the
community surrounding the park, including developing signage and
illustrations that address flooding, stormwater management and
stewardship.
"Creating an experience with nature and natural elements that is both
fun and edcational is a recipe for creating a life-long appreciation
for the environment," said Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of NRPA.
"This is always a goal for community parks and recreation, and for these
three communities having the support of the American Water Charitable
Foundation to create new nature-based experiences will elevate their
ability to give more people the chance to interact with nature in a
unique and memorable way."
"We are excited to give these three communities an opportunity to foster
a greater sense of appreciation for the environment in a fun and
engaging way," said Debra Vernon, Manager, Corporate Responsibility and
President of the American Water Charitable Foundation. "The projects
will not only benefit the children and families in these communities,
but they will also encourage the continued viability of and appreciation
for our nation's water resources. The Building Better Communities program
supports American Water's core values of community stewardship and
environmental sustainability, and aligns with areas of importance to the
company's employees, including child welfare and education."
Each nature-based play space will be developed via a community
partnership dedicated to ongoing stewardship. Annually, the program aims
to support several of these types of projects through grants
administered to local communities. In 2014, four grants were awarded
totaling $384,000. The recipients were The
City of Belleville, Ill., the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority
in Scranton, Pa., the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District in
Camarillo, Calif., and the Brunswick Redevelopment and Revitalization
Committee in Brunswick, Mo.
For more information about the Building Better Communities
program, visit www.nrpa.org/BuildingBetterCommunities.
About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national
not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and
conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people.
Through its network of more than 47,000 recreation and park
professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and
active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to
parks and public space. For more information, visit www.NRPA.org.
For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation,
visit www.parksandrecreation.org.
About the American Water Charitable Foundation
Established in 2010 with a founding contribution from American Water,
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. More information can be found online at amwater.com/corporate-responsibility
or on Facebook.
About American Water
Founded in 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most
geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility
company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs 6,400
dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking
water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million
people in 47 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found
at www.amwater.com.
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