GREENWOOD, IND — (June 12, 2024) – The American Water Charitable Foundation (AWCF), a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., recently announced that Crawfordsville, Indiana-based, Friends of Sugar Creek, was awarded a Water and Environment Grant, supporting communities served by Indiana American Water.
Friends of Sugar Creek requested the funding to help promote their community-wide water quality program titled, “MOCO Adopt a Storm Drain.” The program seeks to engage community members to continuously monitor, and clear storm drains from litter, yard waste, and other debris. Clearing street drains reduces pollution that enter waterways like nearby Sugar Creek and keeps streets from flooding during rains.
In 2020, Friends of Sugar Creek received a $2,000 Indiana American Water grant to kickstart the program. With this new, $7,685 AWCF grant in 2024, the nonprofit environmental organization hopes to expand awareness and engagement with area residents and students through more robust promotion of the program and recruiting more volunteers to help keep storm drains clear throughout the year.
“This grant is a very important part of our efforts to increase awareness through advertising, promotional campaigns and other initiatives to get more residents involved,” said Cindy Woodall, Executive Director, Friends of Sugar Creek. “Our MOCO Adopt a Storm Drain is a volunteer program that encourages the community residents to pledge 15 minutes twice a month to ensure a cleaner watershed and a healthier Sugar Creek.”
So far, 92 drains have been adopted in Crawfordsville, with a goal to get as many of the estimated 2,500 city storm drains assigned to volunteers. Drains that have been “adopted” are often marked with a painted storm drain logo. In addition to the efforts of Friends of Sugar Creek, many other organizations and citizens support the program, including: the City of Crawfordsville Street & Sanitation and Wastewater Departments, and the Montgomery County Mapping Department. Additionally, area schools that adopting storm drains to provide hands-on education and teach students about stormwater runoff impacts.
Friends of Sugar Creek’s mission is to “protect, restore and promote appreciation of Sugar Creek and its watershed.” To learn more, please visit: friendsofsugarcreek.org
Carrie Williams, President, American Water Charitable Foundation adds, “The American Water Charitable Foundation is delighted to partner with eligible nonprofit organizations across Indiana. Funding for Water and Environment grants is allocated towards projects focused on clean water, conservation, environmental education, climate variability, and water-based recreation.”
Learn more about Indiana American Water’s community impact, here.
About the 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.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. 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.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X
About Indiana American Water
Indiana American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.4 million people.
Media Contact:
Joel Reuter
External Affairs Manager
Indiana American Water
Office: (317) 885-2434