WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Water Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit organization established by American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., and California American Water, announced that the Foundation has awarded a $10,000 State Strategic Impact grant to Yolo Basin Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public appreciation and stewardship of wetlands and wildlife through education and innovative partnerships throughout the Greater Sacramento region.

"We are incredibly grateful to the American Water Charitable Foundation for its investment in environmental and STEM education and to California American Water for their continued support of community-based learning opportunities," said Efraim Lopez, Executive Director of Yolo Basin Foundation. "This funding will help expand access to our Discover the Flyway program, providing more students with opportunities to learn about wetlands, water, wildlife and conservation through hands-on experiences."

This State Strategic Impact grant will support Discover the Flyway, Yolo Basin Foundation's K-12 environmental education program. The program offers hands-on science and social science learning experiences through field trips, classroom instruction, teacher workshops, and outreach provided through the Foundation's Mobile Visitor Center. Funding will help expand access to environmental education, while supporting a deeper understanding of water resources, wetlands, wildlife habitats, conservation and environmental stewardship.

"We thank the Foundation for its support and commitment to STEM education by awarding this grant to Yolo Basin Foundation," said Sarah Leeper, President of California American Water. "Programs like Discover the Flyway help students connect classroom learning with the natural world while building an understanding of the vital role water, wetlands, and conservation play in protecting our communities and environment."

The State Strategic Impact Grant Program is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation's Keep Communities Flowing program, which focuses on the three pillars of giving: Water, People and Communities.

"The American Water Charitable Foundation is delighted to partner with eligible nonprofit organizations across California," said Carrie Williams, President of the American Water Charitable Foundation. "We are pleased to support Yolo Basin Foundation as it provides meaningful educational experiences that connect students and community members to wetlands, wildlife, and the importance of protecting our natural resources."

Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation's grant programs here.

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 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 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 and Instagram.

About American Water Charitable Foundation
The American Water Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit organization established by American Water, focuses on three pillars of giving: Water, People, and Communities. Since 2012, the Foundation has invested over $25 million in funding through grants and matching gifts to support eligible organizations in communities served by American Water. The Foundation is funded by American Water shareholders and has no impact on customer rates. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf.

About California American Water
California American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, with approximately 300 dedicated employees, provides safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 720,000 people.