Community Connections

On April 10, The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation unveiled a multipurpose youth development park at the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg through funding from Ollie's Bargain Outlet.  United Water Pennsylvania was represented at the event by employees and customers who have been involved with implementation of the foundation's character-building skills.

Remarks were provided at the ribbon cutting ceremony by Major League Baseball Hall of famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and Major League Baseball veteran Bill Ripken, co-founders of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.  Mark Butler, president and CEO of Ollie's Bargain Outlet, said the new ballpark will give at-risk youths "a safe place to play."  Mr. Butler is also the foundation's chairman-elect.

United Water Pennsylvania employees and members of the company's customer advisory councils will continue to volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg to assist with outreach programs benefiting at-risk youths. 

 United Water Pennsylvania is featured in the latest issue of CATALYST magazine published by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.  Click here to view flood-recovery article that profiles how United Water assisted with flood relief. 

United Water Pennsylvania  entered into a partnership with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in 2011 to promote the foundation's "Badges for Baseball" program.  A kick-off event event was held July 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Metro Bank Park on City Island, preceding a Harrisburg Senators game.

Badges for Baseball was created by the Cal Ripken, Sr. foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice to pair at-risk, inner city youths with police officers.  The program goal is to provide role models who teach the youths team-building, leadership and work ethic skills.  A grant from the United Water Foundation will fund the program.

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation uses baseball-themed programs to help build character and teach critical life lessons to youths residing in some of American's most distressed cities.  Locally, the Ripken Foundation chose the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg as the recipient organization.  The club runs a summer program for at-risk youths from throughout the city.