California American Water, in collaboration with the American Water Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic non-profit organization established by American Water (NYSE: AWK), has awarded a $25,000 Disaster Relief Grant to support the Armory's ongoing creative response efforts to individuals and families affected by the Eaton Fire.
“Pasadena and Altadena are special communities made of generous, creative, and caring people, where the power of place is strong,” said Armory Executive Director Leslie Ito. “The Armory will continue to be here to provide our communities with a home for essential creative care and a space to express the complex range of emotions that come with grieving and loss. Generous support from California American Water and American Water Charitable Foundation is key to sustaining the Armory’s fire relief programs in the coming months, including our Children Investigate the Environment Program and providing studio classes for displaced young people at no cost.”
In response to the Eaton Fire, the Armory launched a Fire Relief Fund for its seven staff and teaching artists who lost homes, opened a creativity and community care artmaking drop-in space, launched a Studio financial assistance program for families that lost their homes, and adapted its Children Investigate the Environment schools program which serves all Pasadena Unified School District 4th graders to focus on the resiliency of both California native plants and our local community.
“Our team knows firsthand the devastation that was caused by the Eaton Fire,” said Jessica Taylor, Director of Operations at California American Water. “We’re proud to partner with the American Water Charitable Foundation to support the Armory Center for the Arts’ commitment to serving those in need and providing them an opportunity to rebuild what they have lost.”
The Foundation's Disaster Relief Program is designed to increase the impact of American Water employee donations made in response to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, fires and other extraordinary disaster events.
“The American Water Charitable Foundation is pleased to join others who have offered their time and resources to support those affected by the Easton Fires in California,” said Carrie Williams, president, American Water Charitable Foundation. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the Armory Center for the Arts, who will help make certain charitable dollars go directly to local disaster relief efforts and families.”
Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation here.
Image (from left): Brian A. Barreto (External Affairs, Southern California California American Water), Leslie A. Ito (Armory Executive Director), Andrew Gould (Armory VP of External Relations), Gale Kohl (Armory Board Member), Katharine Harrington (Armory Board Chair), and Karen Satzman (Armory VP of Programs).