Board Approves ACWA Foundation, Making Aspirational Goal a Reality

  • by Pamela Tobin
  • Oct 14, 2022
  • Voices on Water

After years of discussion and several months of intense planning by a dedicated steering committee and multiple workgroups, my aspirational goal for ACWA of forming a new nonprofit foundation is finally becoming a reality. 

I’m proud to announce that on Sept. 23, the ACWA Board of Directors approved filing the necessary legal paperwork to form the nonprofit ACWA Foundation, which will advance the association’s efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the water industry.  

I can’t say enough about how thankful I am for the Board’s support, as well as the hard work and leadership of everyone who helped get us over the hurdles and toward the finish line. I’ve heard from so many people within our membership who agree that ACWA must be able to lead on this issue within California’s water industry.  

This foundation will provide a tax-exempt structure to educate, mentor, research and invest in the next generation of water leaders, while focusing on attracting a diverse workforce representative of the communities we serve. This nonprofit foundation will also provide a way to fund scholarships, which will open pathways for those who have demonstrated their potential as future water leaders.  

ACWA has committed significant resources into launching the foundation by providing staff support and covering the costs of legal services. I hope member agencies and corporate partners will help play a key role in furthering the foundation’s success.  

The foundation will operate independently from ACWA itself with its own Board of Trustees. It will take a little time for it to make a difference, but there is no better time than now to start making that difference.  

Forty-five years ago, ACWA’s leaders recognized a long-term need and created what is known today as the Water Education Foundation. Formed in 1977, this foundation today offers educational materials, tours, water leadership training and conferences that bring together diverse voices. Education about water was then, and remains today, an urgent need. Today, I feel strongly that we need to invest in attracting, inspiring and training tomorrow’s water workforce in a way that reflects California’s diverse population. The ACWA Foundation is poised to fulfill that mission on a generational scale.

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Comment Letter

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Proposed Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation Letter excerpt: […]

2023 Year In Review

ACWA’s “2023 Year in Review” outlines ACWA’s advocacy wins, awards and services provided to members, as well as events and […]

Groundwater Awareness Week 2024 Toolkit

ACWA encourages member agencies to participate in National Groundwater Awareness Week March 10-16 to raise the public’s awareness of groundwater […]

Dam Safety Fact Sheet

ACWA, along with the California Municipal Utilities Association and California Alliance for Jobs, has released a Dam Safety Fact Sheet, […]

Making Conservation a CA Way of Life Fact Sheet – January 2024

  ACWA’s Making Conservation a California Way of Life Fact Sheet provides a summary of the State Water Board’s draft regulatory […]

Comment Letter on Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Comment Letter – Sacramento/Delta Draft Staff Report Letter excerpt: The Association of California Water […]

Comments on Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Proposed Updates to the Drinking Water Cost Assessment Model: Other Essential Infrastructure, Admin Needs, […]

Draft White Paper: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft White Paper Discussion On: Proposed Updates for the 2024 Drinking Water Needs Assessment […]

Division of Drinking Water Reporting Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Presentations

Presentations from ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo held November 28-30 in Indian Wells are available below. Please note that […]

Request for Extension of Public Comment Period for Lead and Copper Rule Improvements

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Subject: USEPA Lead and Copper Rule Improvements EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0801 – Request for Extension of Public Comment Period […]

Joint Comment Letter Regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium MCL

Agency: State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Joint Comment Letter regarding Proposed Hexavalent Chromium Maximum Contaminant Level and Addendum to the […]

2024 ACWA Scholarship Toolkit

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA 2023 Fall Conference Attorney Programs

Presentations from the Attorney Programs held during ACWA’s 2023 Fall Conference & Expo Nov. 28-30 in Indian Wells are available […]

Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric Program Investment Charge Program

Agency: California Public Utilities Commission Subject: A.19-10-005: Order Instituting Rulemaking on the Commission’s Own Motion to Consider Renewal of the Electric […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Creative Vehicle Wrap Contest Highlights Water Education

MANTECA – With over 150 submissions, South San Joaquin Irrigation District’s (SSJID) “Watering the Roots of Our Community” art contest […]

Crowfoot to Deliver Spring Conference Welcoming Keynote

ACWA has announced that California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot will deliver the Wednesday welcoming keynote address during the ACWA […]

Much-Needed Water Improvements Coming to Nearby Disadvantaged Communities

BEAUMONT – Through its successful gap funding program, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) supports South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) […]

MSWD Announces New Strategic Plan and Appointment AGM

Mission Springs Water District is proud to unveil its new strategic plan, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing operations and […]

Forecasted SWP Allocation Doubles

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a second increase in the State Water Project (SWP) allocation forecast for […]

Legislation to Ease Water Conservation Mandates Gains Regional Support

In a significant move aimed at alleviating the financial strain on water suppliers and households, Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD), […]

Planning Grant Awarded to NID and Tahoe National Forest for Management Project

GRASS VALLEY – The Nevada Irrigation District (NID), in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, has received […]

EMWD Upgraded to AAA Credit Rating

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)’s commitment to financial excellence has been recognized when it received another AAA credit […]

EMWD Receives National Honor for Recycled Water Outreach Program

PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) received national recognition for its recycled water outreach and education program when it […]

ACWA Members Urged to Contact Representatives to Extend NPDES Permit Term Lengths

ACWA is urging member agencies to contact their representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives in time for a March […]

State Water Board Holds Workshop on Revised Draft Regulation for Water Use Efficiency

SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board today held a workshop on the revised draft regulation for Making Conservation […]

Funding Secured for Rancho Water Infrastructure Projects

TEMECULA— With the recent release of the first package of the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills, the Rancho California Water […]

JCSD Honors Congressman Takano with Local Leader of the Year Award

JURUPA VALLEY – The Jurupa Community Services District (JCSD) honored Congressman Mark Takano with its Local Leader of the Year […]

Sacramento-Area Water Providers Harnessed Historic 2023 Storms to Boost Groundwater Levels

Sacramento-area water providers leveraged the historic winter storms of 2023 to boost groundwater levels through in-lieu recharge, banking over 12.3 […]

City of Folsom Kicks Off Water Vision Project

Folsom’s Environmental and Water Resources Department is continuing its planning effort to guide the management of the city’s water resources […]