Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia Awarded American Water Charitable Foundation STEM Education Grant
Pictured (L to R): Sarah J. Wade, West Virginia American Water External Affairs Specialist; Zack Merritt, Clay Center Director of Education & Visitor Experience; Kathy Bush, Clay Center Vice President of Development.
Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia Awarded American Water Charitable Foundation STEM Education Grant
CHARLESTON, WV (December 13, 2024) – The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia announced today it was awarded an American Water Charitable Foundation STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) Education grant, focusing on STEM-related curricular and extracurricular programs for underserved students. The grant will support two dynamic traveling STEM exhibits debuting in fall 2025: Water’s Extreme Journey and Wild Kratts – Ocean Adventure.
Additionally, the American Water Charitable Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to the Clay Center’s Clay2Go program, a mobile STEAM exhibit that brings hands-on learning experiences to communities across the state. The grant will fund 17 Clay2Go visits between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, with each visit supported at $3,000.
“The Clay Center serves as an educational resource across the state by offering engaging, interactive exhibits both at our facility in Charleston, WV, and through our mobile STEAM exhibit, Clay2Go, which travels to all across West Virginia,” said Al Najjar, Clay Center President & CEO. “The American Water Charitable Foundation’s grants help ensure that all West Virginia students and families, regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic backgrounds, have access to the Clay Center’s hands-on exhibits.”
The STEM Education grant is part of the American Water Charitable Foundation’s Keep Communities Flowing Grant Program. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., and aims to support high-impact projects and initiatives that further American Water's commitment to ESG, as well as inclusion, diversity and equity. “The American Water Charitable Foundation is proud to support initiatives that provide access to high-quality learning students need to be successful,” said Carrie Williams, President, American Water Charitable Foundation. “We take pride in supporting American Water's continued efforts to be a responsible neighbor and reliable partner in the community.”
Learn more about our mission and community impact, here.
About Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia
The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, a not-for-profit located in Charleston, WV, is a 240,000-square-foot structure that houses performing arts, visual arts, and sciences all under one roof—one of the few of its kind in the country. At the Clay Center, we’re on a mission to ignite the imaginations of all who visit, offering a multitude of experiences that captivate, educate, and entertain.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
About American Water Charitable Foundation
The American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company’s ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf.
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