Pennsylvania American Water, in collaboration with American Water Charitable Foundation, are lending support to the relief efforts in West Reading following the fatal chocolate factory explosion in March.
This week, the American Water Charitable Foundation donated $10,000 to the Berks County Community Foundation’s West Reading Disaster Recovery Fund.
“Numerous members of our Pennsylvania American Water family have strong ties to the area, and all of us simply want to be good neighbors and do what we can to help those in need,” said Justin Ladner, president of Pennsylvania American Water.
“We appreciate the generous support of so many in this community already. We want our neighbors in West Reading to know that all American Water employees across the country – not just those here in Pennsylvania – are with you.”
West Reading is located between Pennsylvania American Water’s Glen Alsace water system and Exeter wastewater systems. With its nearly 9,500 water customers and 7,900 wastewater customers, and its 20 employees, Pennsylvania American Water calls this area home.
“Support from these generous donations will be distributed in a variety of ways,” said Kevin Murphy, president, Berks County Community Foundation. “Funding will provide financial assistance to the families of individuals who lost their lives in the explosion, to individuals displaced from their homes, to organizations helping identify alternative employment opportunities, and supporting the Borough of West Reading with their commemorative planning.”
“The American Water Charitable Foundation is pleased to join the ongoing relief efforts to support the families and community impacted by this devastating event,” said Carrie Williams, president, American Water Charitable Foundation. “We are grateful to the Berks County Community Foundation for their leadership during a very difficult time.”
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.
