San Jose, CA — July 16, 2020 - San Jose Water (“SJW” or “the Company”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SJW Group (NYSE: SJW), announced today that it has made a $50,000 donation to San Jose Aspires, an education initiative launched by the office of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, to support underserved San Jose high school students by getting them on a pathway to postsecondary education.

San Jose Aspires enables students to overcome barriers to academic success by providing a free online tool for learning opportunities and resources, individual mentorship/advising, and a micro-scholarship program that provides aid for college choices. Its mission is to empower students to overcome poverty and other obstacles which would impede their success in college and beyond.

“There are few things more important than education, when it comes to building your life,” stated Eric W. Thornburg, Chairman, President and CEO of SJW Group. “The idea of helping students overcome barriers in their lives to achieve their potential is core to our longstanding commitment to support our local communities where we live, work and serve. We are honored to support this initiative and the work of Mayor Liccardo.”

“At a time when college remains a daunting financial challenge for most families, San Jose Aspires has helped make it more affordable and accessible for our most underserved students,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo. “I am deeply grateful to partners like the San Jose Water Company for their generosity and commitment to San Jose’s youth.”

“It’s inspiring to learn that in this time of adversity, there are leaders like San Jose Water Company CEO Eric Thornburg, whose company and employees not only share Mayor Liccardo’s vision and commitment to underserved San Jose high school students, but are willing to step up and make a generous investment in their future,” said Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

The program is currently being implemented by the San Jose Public Library in collaboration with the San Jose Public Library Foundation. In the coming school year, the program will support San Jose students, with key partnerships at Overfelt High School, San Jose High School and Opportunity Youth Academy.

 

About San Jose Water

Founded in 1866, San Jose Water is an investor owned public utility, and is one of the largest and most technically sophisticated urban water systems in the United States. Serving over one million people in the greater San Jose metropolitan area, San Jose Water also provides services to other utilities including operations and maintenance, billing, and backflow testing. San Jose Water is owned by SJW Group, a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SJW. SJW Group also owns: Connecticut Water Company, Avon Water Company and Heritage Village Company in Connecticut; Maine Water Company in Maine; and SJWTX, Inc. (dba Canyon Lake Water Service Company) in Texas. To learn more about San Jose Water, visit: sjwater.com.

Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest company news.

 

Media Contacts

Liann Walborsky, Director of Corporate Communications

San Jose Water

408 918-7247

Rachel Davis, Press Secretary 

Office of Mayor Liccardo

408 535-4857