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Community Relations

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At American Water, Corporate Social Responsibility is more than an idea; it's who we are. Our commitment to helping out wherever we can is something we take very seriously. Across the country, we work with organizations, volunteer our time, and support schools and communities. In addition to participating in local programs, we provide support at the corporate level to two organizations focused on helping others, the United Way and Water For People.

United Way
In communities across America, the United Way improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of their communities. More than fundraisers, United Ways are partners in change, working with a broad range of people and organizations to identify and resolve pressing community issues. United Ways have led the nonprofit sector in the call for transparent accountability and measurable results.

Although priorities for United Way action are set locally, common themes include:

Helping children succeed

Strengthening and supporting families

Promoting self-sufficiency

Building vital and safe neighborhoods

American Water has been a long time supporter of the United Way. Some of their key initiatives include helping at-risk youth become academically successful, substance free, law-abiding and avoiding early parenthood; economic self-sufficiency helping participants achieve work readiness, long-term employment, financial literacy, established credit, a bank account and housing; and core community needs like helping with choices for childcare.

In 2007, American Water exceeded its fund-raising goal of half a million dollars by raising more than $556,800. Across the company, employees devised unique ways like bake sales, raffles and auctions to help raise money.

Water For People
In ten seconds, ten children will die from an easily preventable water related disease. In an hour, that amount will rise to 250. And by the end of the day, that total will be 6,000 worldwide. Children are not the only victims. Today, 400 million people, all over the world, live in areas under water stress. In less than 50 years, 4 billion people will find themselves living in these areas. Currently, 1.1 billion people are living without access to safe drinking water, and over twice as many are living without access to basic sanitation.

For more than a decade, American Water has supported Water for People, an international non-governmental organization, that uses water as a catalyst for change in communities throughout the world that lack access to drinking water, basic sanitation and hygiene education.

Our employees have donated their time, efforts and expertise to this critical cause. Over the course of our relationship, American Water and our employees have donated over $1 million. Every year, on March 22, organizations around the world participate in World Water Day by helping to address problems related to drinking water and sanitation, and raise awareness of the need to develop and preserve global water resources. In observance of World Water Day, every year American Water subsidiaries launch a system-wide employee campaign to benefit Water For People commencing on, or around, World Water Day

2007 marks the third consecutive year that American Water employees have held a coordinated national fundraising effort. The 2007 campaign yielded more than $133,000 from employee donations. Together with the company match, American Water made a total donation of over $208,000, nearly doubling 2006 efforts.

As a water services provider, we know all too well that many people take for granted the fact that they have access to high-quality and reliable water services. Water For People works toward sustainable solutions to help those in need, and approximately $.80 of every dollar contributed helps make their efforts possible and make a difference everyday in the lives of many.