West Sacramento, Calif. — Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) received a $10,000 SoCalGas Environmental Champions Grant to support RCAC’s Agua4All program in Kern County. RCAC will use this funding to install three water bottle filling stations in Greenfield Union schools; provide education and community outreach to change negative perceptions about drinking tap water; and distribute reusable water bottles to children within the school district.

The SoCalGas Environmental Champions Grant initiative funds innovative projects or programs that address clean air, clean energy and/or water conservation with a particular emphasis on supporting underserved communities.

Agua4All increases access to and consumption of safe drinking water in disadvantaged, underserved communities by installing water bottle filling stations in schools and other easily accessible public places, and distributing free, reusable water bottles. In Kern County, RCAC is partnering in Agua4All with The California Endowment (TCE), Self-Help Enterprises (SHE), Community Water Center and other organizations focused on the health of low-income rural residents.

“We are pleased to receive support from SoCalGas. Agua4All has had a significant impact encouraging children to consume more drinking water, and we are always pleased to add new partners to our efforts as we expand the program statewide,” said Stanley Keasling, RCAC’s chief executive officer.

Agua4All will ensure that the Greenfield Union School District has increased access to safe drinking water, more community awareness of the health benefits associated with drinking water, a measurable increase in willingness to drink tap water and subsequent improvement in the population’s general health.

Founded in 1978, RCAC provides training, technical and financial resources and advocacy so rural communities can achieve their goals and visions. RCAC serves rural communities in 13 western states and the Pacific islands. Most of our work in Alaska, Hawaii and the western Pacific is focused in Native communities. RCAC also works with majority Latino communities and Tribes across the Southwest. RCAC provides a broad range of community and economic development services and lending to support local efforts. To find out more about RCAC’s Loan Fund products, visit https://www.rcac.org/programs-services/

Contact:

David Wallis
Technical Services Program Manager
(559) 341-2501
dwallis@rcac.org