San Jose Water employees have deep roots in the Northern California community. The company itself has been around for more than 150 years and many of its employees are born and raised in Northern California’s communities. That’s why SJW employees stepped up to help our neighbors to the north whose communities were devastated by the Napa and Sonoma County fires.
While the fires still raged, Distribution Systems Laborer Nick Hall stepped up to let his fellow DS employees know that he would be taking donations to shelters in the two counties struck by out of control wild fires. Taking a vacation day last Friday, Hall took food, clothes, and other important supplies up to the victims many of whom had lost everything.
But Hall’s quick action inspired SJW employees to look for a way to do more. On Friday, Oct. 13, San Jose Water committed to match all funds raised by employees for the Napa and Sonoma County relief effort.
In just one week, San Jose Water employees raised $5,479 for fire relief. Combined with the SJW’s matching contribution, San Jose Water will make a nearly $11,000 donation to the United Way Wine Country Fire Relief Fund.
Of particular note, San Jose Water Employee Community Fund contributed $1,000 to the effort. The SJW Employees’ Community Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit run by and for the employees of the Water . Throughout the year employees engage in fundraising efforts to generate funds for community programs that are selected by a committee of employees for support. For more information about the Employee Fund, visit our Corporate Social Responsibility page.
San Jose Water also supports a number of community-based organizations focused on providing services to the homeless and low-income, supporting arts and STEM programs, and encouraging environmental and community improvements.
Each year SJW, invests $180,000 in community programs. In addition to its annual community giving programs and the fire relief effort, San Jose Water contributed $10,000 to help San Jose flood victims in early 2018 and more recently committed $10,000 through its property in Texas to the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. To learn more about the Community Giving Program or to apply for a grant, visit our Corporate Contributions page.