Illinois American Water Awards 97 Firefighter Grants

Rhea-AI Summary

Illinois American Water has awarded over $96,000 to 97 Illinois fire departments and districts through its 2024 Firefighter Grant Program. Since the program's inception in 2010, over 1,040 grants totaling over $1,036,000 have been distributed to fire and emergency organizations in Illinois American Water's service area.

The grants provide funding for personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials, and classroom programs. Jacob Campbell, Fire Chief of Pontiac Fire Department, highlighted how the grant will enable them to purchase confined space equipment for specialized rescues.

Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water, emphasized the company's commitment to supporting first responders and ensuring community safety. The announcement follows National Fire Prevention Week, which focused on the theme "Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!" to educate about proper smoke alarm installation, testing, and maintenance.

Positive

• Awarded over $96,000 to 97 Illinois fire departments and districts
• Cumulative grants since 2010 exceed $1,036,000
• Supports essential equipment and training for firefighters
• Demonstrates long-term commitment to community safety

Negative

• None.

Since 2010, over 1,040 grants totaling over $1 million have been awarded to Illinois fire and emergency organizations in Illinois American Water’s service area

BELLEVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Over $96,000 has been awarded to 97 Illinois fire departments and districts through Illinois American Water’s 2024 Firefighter Grant Program. Since the program was created in 2010, over 1,040 grants totaling over $1,036,000 have been awarded to fire and emergency organizations serving customers in Illinois American Water’s service area.

"The Pontiac Fire Department relies heavily on collaborating with community stakeholders like Illinois American Water to help ensure our firefighters carry out their mission of protecting life, property, and the environment,” says Jacob Campbell, Fire Chief of Pontiac Fire Department. “Thanks to the grant opportunity provided through the Illinois American Water Company this year the Pontiac Fire Department will be able to purchase confined space equipment that will help our firefighters be better prepared to perform specialized rescues within their jurisdiction."

Illinois American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program awards grants to provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials and classroom programs.

Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water adds, “All of us at Illinois American Water know how important water is for protecting homes and businesses. We also understand resources and equipment for our local heroes can run short. We created the Firefighter Grant Program more than 10 years ago to support our first responders in a meaningful way. We are proud to support these organizations who keep our customers and communities safe in emergency situations day after day.”

Illinois American Water is providing firefighter grants to the following Illinois fire departments:

• Alhambra Fire Department District
• Allen Township Fire Protection District
• Alton Fire Department
• Andalusia Fire Protection District
• Arcola Fire Protection District
• Belleville Fire Department
• Brighton Betsey Ann Fire Protection District
• Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department
• Cairo Fire Department
• Camargo Countryside Fire Protection District
• Carroll Fire Department
• Champaign Fire Department
• Chillicothe Community Fire Protection District
• Church Road Fire Protection District
• City of Pekin Fire Department
• City of Villa Grove Fire Department
• Columbia Fire Protection District
• Cottage Hills Fire Protection District
• Des Plaines Fire Department
• Dorsey Fire Protection District
• Dunlap Community Fire Protection District
• East Side Fire Department
• East St. Louis Fire Department
• Eastern Prairie Fire Protection District
• Edge-Scott Fire Protection District
• Elgin Fire Department
• Fairmont City Fire Department
• Farmington Fire Protection District
• Fosterburg Fire Protection District
• French Village Fire Department
• Glen Carbon Fire Protection District
• Godfrey Fire Protection District
• Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
• Granite City Fire Department
• Hamel Community Volunteer Fire Protection District
• Hardin Fire Protection District
• Holiday Shores Fire Protection District
• Homer Township Fire Protection District
• Jerseyville Fire Department
• Lemont Fire Protection District
• Leonore Volunteer Fire Department
• Limestone Township Fire Department
• Lincoln Fire Department
• Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District
• Lisle-Woodridge Fire District
• Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District
• Long Lake Fire Department
• Marine Community Fire Protection District
• Mascoutah Fire Department
• Midway Fire Protection District
• Millstadt Union Fire Department
• Mount Prospect Fire Department
• Mt. Pulaski Rural Fire Protection District
• North Pekin Fire Department
• Northwest Homer Fire Protection District
• Northwest St. Clair County Fire Protection District
• O'Fallon Fire Department
• Olive Fire Protection District
• Oswego Fire Protection District
• Peoria Fire Department
• Pesotum Fire Protection District
• Plainfield Fire Protection District
• Pocahontas Old Ripley Fire Protection District
• Pontiac Fire Department
• Prospect Heights Fire Protection District
• QEM Fire Protection District
• Reading Fire Department
• Rockton Fire Protection District
• Romeoville Fire Department
• Rosiclare Fire Department
• Sadorus Fire Protection District
• Sangamon Valley Fire Protection District
• Sauget Fire Department
• Saunemin Fire Protection District
• Schaeferville Fire Protection District
• Sidney Fire Protection District
• Signal Hill Fire Department
• South Elgin Fire Protection District
• St. Clair Special Emergency Services
• St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Department
• Sterling Fire Department
• Streator Fire Department
• Swansea Fire Department
• Tolono Fire Protection District
• Tremont Fire Protection District
• Troy Fire Protection District
• Tuscola Fire Department
• Venice Fire Department
• Villa Hills Fire Department
• Village of Bartonville Volunteer Fire Department
• Village of Bolingbrook
• Village of Hoffman Estates
• Village of Savoy Fire Department
• Warrenville Fire Protection District
• Washington Fire Department
• West Peoria Fire Department
• Worden Fire Department

The firefighter grants are being announced following National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 6 - Oct. 12, 2024, to raise awareness about the importance of fire prevention and emergency planning. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme was “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!” The theme educated individuals about the critical importance of smoke alarms in the home and what’s needed to install, test, and maintain them properly. Learn more at www.nfpa.org.

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, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 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, Twitter and Instagram.

About Illinois American Water

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017812035/en/

Media

Anna Kubas

Senior Manager, External Communications

Anna.Kubas@amwater.com

Source: Illinois American Water

FAQ

How much did Illinois American Water (AWK) award in firefighter grants for 2024?

Illinois American Water awarded over $96,000 in firefighter grants for 2024 to 97 Illinois fire departments and districts.

How many grants has Illinois American Water (AWK) awarded since starting the Firefighter Grant Program in 2010?

Since 2010, Illinois American Water has awarded over 1,040 grants totaling over $1,036,000 to fire and emergency organizations in its service area.

What types of equipment and resources does the Illinois American Water (AWK) Firefighter Grant Program support?

The program supports personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training materials, and classroom programs.

When was the 2024 Illinois American Water (AWK) Firefighter Grant Program announcement made in relation to National Fire Prevention Week?

The firefighter grants were announced following National Fire Prevention Week, which took place from October 6 to October 12, 2024.