New Jersey American Water Announces 2024 Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Grant Program Recipients and Recognizes 2024 State Strategic Grantees

This year’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity grants will be used in various ways to develop and implement programs, training or community-related projects that aim to promote and foster inclusion and diversity in their community.

The American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water have announced the recipients of its 2024 Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Grant Program and have also announced that the Foundation has awarded a combined total of $25,000 in State Strategic Impact grants to five non-profit organizations that are battling food insecurity throughout New Jersey. 

This year’s Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity grants will be used in various ways to develop and implement programs, training or community-related projects that aim to promote and foster inclusion and diversity in their community. $32,500 was awarded to 14 distinguished organizations and community groups for the purpose of advancing inclusion and diversity related initiatives in communities throughout New Jersey.

The 2024 Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Grant recipients include:

• Asbury Park African-American Music Project

• Bruckner Chase Ocean Positive, Inc.

• West Orange Public Schools/St. Cloud Elementary School 

• Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey

• Hispanic Family Center of Southern NJ, Inc.  

• Independent Authors Book Experience

• Lawnside Historical Society

• My Brother Rocks the Spectrum Foundation

• Piscataway Public Library Foundation

• Shore Clubhouse A NJ Nonprofit Corp

• Somerset Children's Center

• Warren County Habitat for Humanity

• Westfield Area YMCA

• Youthnet Inc.

“In its second year, the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Grant Program continues to make a significant impact by recognizing and supporting the incredible efforts of our 2024 recipients,” said Mark McDonough, president of New Jersey American Water. “These grants not only honor the dedication of organizations committed to fostering inclusion and diversity but also enhance our collective mission to create a more equitable and welcoming community for all. By investing in these initiatives, we strengthen our ability to serve our customers and communities across New Jersey.”

The State Strategic Impact grants support high-impact projects throughout New Jersey American Water’s footprint.

Five organizations received donations totaling $25,000: 

• Community FoodBank of New Jersey

• The Food Bank of South Jersey 

• FulFill NJ: Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties 

• Mercer Street Friends Food Bank

• Norwescap

Torrina Bennett-Michael, Director of External Affairs at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, expressed profound gratitude for the support from the American Water Charitable Foundation and New Jersey American Water. As one of the five recipients, she stated, "This donation, coupled with the year-round support from New Jersey American Water for our events, enables us to enhance our efforts in providing essential assistance to nearly 675,000 individuals in our 15-county service area who are facing hunger." 

"At New Jersey American Water, our commitment goes beyond providing quality service," McDonough said. "Food security and water security go hand in hand. We are proud to provide clean safe reliable water to our customers’ taps and we are happy to support our community food banks in their mission to provide healthy nutritious food to residents in our service areas throughout the state."