The Water Conservation Garden announced today it was awarded a 2022 American Water Charitable Foundation Water and Environment Grant, focusing on The Adventures of Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Earth Heroes—a water conservation education children’s picture book that will include supplemental educational programming and story times for children from underserved communities located in San Diego County. Each Earth Hero represents a diversified ethnicity and is inclusive of special needs.
Jennifer Pillsbury, The Water Conservation Garden’s Executive Director and CEO, said, “As we learn that conservation and sustainability must become a way of life, the more apparent it becomes teaching this at an early age is important. The 2022 American Water Charitable Foundation Water and Environment Grant, focusing on The Adventures of Ms. Smarty-Plants™ books will inspire children to make a change in their homes now and in the future.”
Patrick Pilz, The Water Conservation Garden’s Board President, added, “Through youth education, The Water Conservation Garden will continue to invest in our students who will make informed decisions regarding the continued sustainability of our planet by changing current practices and behaviors, as well as, addressing our critical drought situation in Southern California, climate change, and creating future technologies that may be needed.”
Patrick is the Sr. Manager of Field Operations at California American Water, overseeing all of the company’s conservation and customer service programs throughout California. Its parent company, American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the United States. Patrick has been working for California American Water since 2004.
The Water and the Environment grant is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company, and aims to support high-impact projects and initiatives that further American Water’s commitment to support ESG (environment, social and governance), as well as inclusion, diversity and equity.
“The American Water Charitable Foundation is committed to participating and investing in programs that benefit communities served by American Water,” said Carrie Williams, president, American Water Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to further American Water’s ongoing commitment to being a good neighbor and good steward of the environment.”
Learn more about our mission and community impact, https://thegarden.org/about/about-the-garden/.
