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August 11, 2026
| American Water (NYSE: AWK) |
New Jersey American Water Presents $2,359.98 Grant to South Orange Rescue Squad
  • New Jersey American Water presents a $2,359.98 Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant to South Orange Rescue Squad.

    New Jersey American Water presents a $2,359.98 Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant to South Orange Rescue Squad. Pictured left to right: Carlo Ventricelli, Lead Service Program Superintendent, New Jersey American Water; George Smidhum, Lead Operations Project Manager, New Jersey American Water; Nik Engineer, President of South Orange Rescue Squad.

Funding Supports Purchase of Pulse CO-Oximeters for Emergency Response

CAMDEN, N.J. – AUG. 11, 2026 – New Jersey American Water presented South Orange Rescue Squad in South Orange, N.J., with a $2,359.98 grant as part of the company’s 2026 Volunteer Fire and EMS Grant Program, which awarded about $50,000 to 21 volunteer fire and EMS departments across its service areas. The all-volunteer rescue squad will use the funding to purchase two Masimo RAD-57 Pulse CO-Oximeters, helping its 35 volunteers quickly assess carbon monoxide exposure and support effective patient care during emergency responses.

“Local first responders understand which tools and resources will have the greatest impact in the communities they serve,” said Kim Schalek Downes, Vice President of Business Development, Government and External Affairs. “Through this program, we’re proud to help departments make those important investments year after year.”

This year's grants support a variety of initiatives across participating departments, including the purchase of gas leak detectors, gas meters, defibrillators, thermal imaging cameras, and other critical lifesaving equipment.

Since launching the program in 2011, New Jersey American Water has awarded 353 grants totaling more than $587,500 to 176 local volunteer fire departments and emergency response units in its service areas. More information about the program is available at www.newjerseyamwater.com/community.

Learn more about New Jersey American Water's community impact, here.

About New Jersey American Water
New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater services to approximately 3 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram. 

New Jersey American Water Media Contact:
Damarah Brown
Sr. External Affairs Specialist
New Jersey American Water
Damarah.Brown@amwater.com