The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., and Pennsylvania American Water recently revealed that three nonprofit educational institutions were each awarded a $25,000 Workforce Readiness Grant.

These grants are part of the company’s ongoing commitment to community support and workforce development programs that empower the next generation of skilled workers.

“We are grateful to the American Water Charitable Foundation for their generous workforce development grant,” said Regina Hiler, Executive Director of Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School, one of the organizations awarded a grant. “This funding will enhance our training and education efforts, equipping our students with essential skills for their futures. We look forward to the positive impact this grant will have on our community and students.”

Below is a list of the 2024 grantees throughout Pennsylvania, along with a brief description of how the $25,000 in funding will be used:

• Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School, Butler County: Grant funds will be used to underwrite the purchase of equipment for educating and training students to prepare them for high-priority occupations.
• Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Lancaster County: Grant funds will be used to enhance outreach and curriculum related to the institution’s Water and Environment Technology Program, as well as to provide scholarships for financially disadvantaged students.
• Western Area Career and Technology Center, Washington County: Grant funds will be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) for underserved students.

“The importance of developing a skilled workforce cannot be understated,” said Pennsylvania American Water President Justin Ladner, who also serves on the American Water Charitable Foundation board of trustees. “At Pennsylvania American Water, about 22 percent of our workforce is already eligible to retire, and that number increases to around 36 percent when we look five years out. We know other companies in the communities we serve may have similar challenges to face in the coming years. For that reason, the American Water Charitable Foundation and Pennsylvania American Water are glad to proactively address financial support of schools that are educating our next generation of leaders.”

The Workforce Readiness Grant is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program, focusing on three pillars of giving: Water, People, and Communities. This opportunity focuses on general career readiness, financial and business literacy, positive youth development, and life skills training.

“The American Water Charitable Foundation is delighted to partner with eligible nonprofit organizations across Pennsylvania,” said American Water Charitable Foundation President Carrie Williams. “We are proud to support initiatives that provide access to high-quality training and skills development for future leaders in the workplace.”

Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation here, and review Pennsylvania American Water’s 2023 Community Impact Report summarizing the company’s outreach efforts.

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.

Learn more at Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, and how it is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.3 million people. American Water is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders.