When corporations function as economic and social assets, they can play a vital role in the communities they serve. For that reason, community outreach is a business essential, and simply makes good business sense. Park Water Company is committed to providing quality service to the communities it serves, not only through its product and services but also through responsible corporate citizenship.

Operation Gobble

In 1988, Park Water Company President, and CEO, Henry Wheeler Jr., recognized a need in the local community. Plans were soon underway to acquire and distribute turkeys to those in most need. Operation Gobble, a Thanksgiving Holiday community outreach program, began with the donation of 500 turkeys to needy families in the Oakland area. Since then, this charitable program has grown into a statewide outreach program in which other investor-owned water utilities have joined together to donate and deliver nearly 50,000 turkeys annually.

Spark of Love

From that desire to make a difference, Park Water Company continues its efforts to take advantage of resources in the community that are positioned to have a great impact on the underserved in its service areas. Los Angeles County sheriff and firefighters have for years been ambassadors of good will in the communities they protect. Park Water Company partners annually with these agencies including Channel ABC7 and others in The Spark of Love Program to reach our most needy citizens.

Compton Sheriff Explorer Program

Since its inception in 1969, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Law Enforcement Explorer Program has created new inroads of understanding between youth, law enforcement, and the community.

Deputy Explorers are not just "talkers." They receive extensive training and then actively participate in community affairs and non-hazardous law enforcement activities. Explorers are used to facilitate community anti-crime activities such as the Guns for Cash program.

Park Water Company contributes annually to Compton area Explorer program.

Norwalk and Lakewood Sheriff Stations Holiday Programs

Park Water Company fully participates in the holiday programs of our local law enforcement agencies. Officers and community volunteers come together to create holiday baskets for our most needy citizens. Park donates cash that is used to purchase food and toys. Park staff members also join in the festivities by helping to wrap presents and put together food baskets.

University Of California, San Francisco, And Berkeley Research Projects

These contributions include:

• A six million dollar grant to establish the Wheeler Center, a research institute at the University of California, San Francisco where they are studying the science of genetics as it relates to the neurobiological mechanisms of the brain
• Three one hundred thousand dollar cash endowments to support the efforts of three Ph.D. biochemists in their research into the origin and genetics of cancer
• A one time one hundred thousand dollar gift to Cedars-Sinai Center of Cardiology to study diseases of the heart and their prevention
• A one million dollar grant to the University of California, Berkeley Biochemistry Department for the study of the origin and prevention of cancer, aging and degenerative diseases.