CAMDEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New Jersey American Water and the American Water Charitable Foundation are together providing $65,000 in donations to the COVID-19 emergency funds of four organizations in New Jersey. New Jersey American Water is donating $15,000 each to Cooper Health Foundation and RWJBarnabas Health Foundation, and $10,000 to Inspira Health, to benefit each health provider’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Additionally, the American Water Charitable Foundation is providing a $25,000 grant to the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund, as part of the Foundation’s community-focused COVID-19 Response Fund.
“Now more than ever, we must all play a part in aiding, protecting and ensuring the health of our fellow New Jerseyans,” said New Jersey American Water President Cheryl Norton. “New Jersey American Water is here to support the communities we serve in good times and in bad, and we are grateful to these organizations for the incredible work they are doing to care for people and save lives. We are all in this together and we hope these funds can provide assistance to the countless residents that are being impacted by this public health emergency.”
The Cooper Foundation serves as the philanthropic, community outreach and community development arm of Cooper University Health Care, one of the largest health systems in southern New Jersey with over 100 outpatient offices and its flagship, Cooper University Hospital located in Camden, N.J. The COVID-19 Assistance Fund was established on March 24, 2020 to support Cooper’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspira Health is a charitable nonprofit health care organization. The system comprises three hospitals, a comprehensive cancer center, several multi-specialty health centers and a total of more than 150 access points in Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, Camden and Atlantic counties. The Inspira COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund gives Inspira Health the necessary ability to respond rapidly during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. The funds can support the costs of increasing bed capacity, purchasing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), assisting employees who face financial hardships and completing infrastructure projects to accommodate the impending surge of patients.
RWJBarnabas Health is the most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey with eleven acute care hospitals, three acute care children’s hospitals, a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, among others, and a large medical group. The partnership with Rutgers University also aligns the system with the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The RWJBarnabas Health Emergency Response Fund helps our clinicians stay safe and addresses the growing needs presented by this pandemic.
The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) was created to raise funds, organize and coordinate resources to fight the medical, social and economic impact of COVID-19 on New Jersey’s most vulnerable. NJPRF will provide grants to organizations with a proven track record and, thanks to a generous donor that will underwrite administrative costs, one hundred percent of funds raised will go to those organizations on the front lines of this fight.
Last month, New Jersey American Water was one of the first water utilities to suspend shut-offs for nonpayment and restored previously discontinued residential customer service. New Jersey American Water has also suspended late fees until further notice and is working with customers who are experiencing hardships, including offering the option to apply for payment programs and its H2O Help to Others payment assistance program.
About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.
About American Water
With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
