Community Connections

United Water Pennsylvania has entered into a partnership with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to promote the foundation's "Badges for Baseball" program.  A kick-off event to announce the partnership will be 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.  In 2010, the foundation served over 15,000 youths in 11 states.

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. 

"United Water's involvement in this laudable youth program reflects the company's desire to improve the lives of at-risk youths so that they may become productive adults," said Bob Manbeck, Public Affairs Manager for United Water Pennsylvania.  "Our employees and members of the company's four regional customer advisory panels will work with the youths to implement the Ripken Foundation goals.  Our panel members include business owners, local government officials, medical professionals, university officials and maintenance directors.  Each of them have time-tested advice to offer in partnership with law enforcement officials who are also involved with the program."

United Water supports a range of organizations whose mission relates to environmental protection. The company's community service priority is to preserve the environment around water sources.  United Water partners with watershed organizations, county conservation districts and other groups whose purpose is to protect water sources from contamination threats.

Customer Advisory Councils in each of the company's regional operation areas help represent residential, commercial and industrial customers and assist with planning water source clean-up projects benefiting the communities served by United Water Pennsylvania.  Customers interested in serving on a regional advisory council may contact Bob Manbeck by calling 888 299-8972 or 717 564-3662.