American Water Charitable Foundation and Pennsylvania American Water Announce $25K Grant to York City Parks Conservancy
Grant funds to be used for improvements to Williams Park
The American Water Charitable Foundation and Pennsylvania American Water present a $25,000 grant to York City Parks Conservancy (YCPC) for improvements to Williams Park.
Pictured (left to right): David Misner, external affairs manager, Pennsylvania American Water; Justin Ladner, president, Pennsylvania American Water; Eric Menzer, board member, YCPC; Michael Helfrich, mayor, City of York; and YCPC board members John Klinedinst, Tom Landis, Jim Gross, Laura O’Grady and Mark Skehan
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (Dec. 16, 2022) – 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, recently partnered with Pennsylvania American Water to present a $25,000 State Strategic Impact Grant to York City Parks Conservancy. Following its mission to preserve, restore, and improve public parks within the City of York, the conservancy is a nonprofit organization that transforms the City’s park system – including 25 public parks covering 193 total acres – into safe, healthy destinations inclusive for all people to enjoy for generations. Funds from the American Water Charitable Foundation grant will be used for improvements to Williams Park.
“We couldn’t be happier to join the American Water Charitable Foundation in selecting York City Parks Conservancy as the recipient of this grant, and we look forward to the long-lasting benefits that the improvements to Williams Park will have on the residents of York for years to come,” said Justin Ladner, president of Pennsylvania American Water. “On behalf of the American Water Charitable Foundation and Pennsylvania American Water, I’d like to extend our sincere gratitude to York City Parks Conservancy for their partnership and for their ongoing efforts to make our community a better place to live, work and play.”
Within Williams Park, the grant funding will be used to support capital improvements, including the installation of new age-inclusive playground equipment and amenities. In partnership with the City of York, the conservancy seeks to promote equity and inclusion in the Williams Park community with this project.
“This grant will help to improve a York City park that is very much in need of renewed green space and playground equipment. It is a great example of a collaborative effort to transform our parks into safe, healthy destinations, inclusive for all people to enjoy for generations,” said James E. Gross, chair of the York City Parks Conservancy board of directors and retired director of public works for the City of York. “Pennsylvania American Water has become an important partner to the City of York, to the York City Parks Conservancy and to many organizations working to improve the quality of life in our community. We are grateful for their support and for the investment the American Water Charitable Foundation has made in York City and in our parks.”
A relatively new service provider in the community, Pennsylvania American Water serves more than 45,000 customer connections, including approximately 14,000 direct customers in York City and bulk services to indirect customers in the neighboring townships of Spring Garden, Manchester, West Manchester, York and Springettsbury and the boroughs of North York and West York.
“It’s great to see Pennsylvania American Water investing in our community and our kids,” said City of York Mayor Michael Helfrich. “It truly shows they are not just here as a business, but as a good neighbor.”
In addition to the $25,000 State Strategic Impact Grant from the American Water Charitable Foundation, Pennsylvania American Water presented York City Parks Conservancy with a $3,500 donation to support its mission in September.
The grant presented today is part of the 2022 Keep Communities Flowing grant program, focusing on three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities. State Strategic Impact grants like this one support high-impact projects and initiatives throughout American Water’s regulated and regulated-like footprint.
Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation, including additional grant opportunities here.
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.
About Pennsylvania American Water
Pennsylvania 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 2.4 million people. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,400 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 follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About York City Parks Conservancy
York City Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit organization established in 2017 with a mission to preserve, restore, and improve public parks within the City of York, Pennsylvania. Donations to York City Parks Conservancy fund capital improvements for York City parks. York City Parks Conservancy’s board of directors works with City of York leadership and staff to identify priorities for capital improvements and allocate support for these projects. For more information, visit www.yorkcityparks.org.
Media Contacts:
David Misner
Manager, External Affairs
Pennsylvania American Water
717-261-7525
[email protected]
Elaine Fogdall
Executive Administrator
York City Parks Conservancy
717-208-2118
[email protected]
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Laura Martin
Senior Director, Government & External Affairs (PA & WV)
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Charleston, WV 25302
P: 304-340-2089
F: 304-340-2076
C: 304-932-7158
E: [email protected]