RYE BROOK, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2015--
Xylem Inc. (NYSE:XYL), a leading global water technology company
dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, has been
awarded the 2015 Corporate Citizenship Award from the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Foundation (USCCF) for the Best Health and Wellness Program.
The award recognizes Xylem’s work to provide sustainable access to
water, sanitation and hygiene (W.A.S.H.) solutions to many of the
world’s most vulnerable communities. In its 16th year, the
USCCF Corporate Citizenship Awards honor businesses for their
significant positive impacts in communities around the world. The
winners were announced on October 6 at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Xylem, through its corporate citizenship and social investment program,
Xylem Watermark, partners with best-in-class nonprofit partners to build
and improve W.A.S.H. infrastructure to meet the needs of hundreds of
thousands of people in nine countries. These projects include the
construction of new water systems, renovation of washrooms and
sanitation blocks, repair of hand-washing facilities, and the building
of gravity-fed water towers and water cisterns in schools and
communities. Xylem Watermark has collaborated with Water For People,
China Women’s Development Foundation, Planet Water Foundation and
Fundación Avina to execute 740 W.A.S.H.-related projects in the past
seven years.
“W.A.S.H. education programs and access to safe water, sanitation and
hygiene are critical building blocks to sustainable human and economic
development,” said Colin Sabol, Chairman of the Xylem Watermark
Committee. “We are especially proud to receive this award because it
highlights our program’s results and the impact our programs have on
local communities.”
Xylem Watermark and its nonprofit partners develop customized programs
to increase broad adoption of smarter W.A.S.H. practices by communities
in need. Dynamic curricula have been established in partnership with
Planet Water Foundation and are deployed to teach schoolchildren about
germs through games and coloring books – empowering students to become
W.A.S.H. teachers for their families and communities. A recent Planet
Water Foundation impact report noted that participants in the curriculum
in India experienced an 80% decrease in diarrheal episodes versus a 27%
increase among children not participating in the program. Likewise,
Water For People uses a “train-the-trainer model” to engage local
leaders to act as role models and mentors within their communities.
Xylem also encourages its employees to make their mark through global
and regional volunteer trips, where they participate in fieldwork in
communities with nonprofit partners, becoming advocates for global water
solutions.
Nick Hill, Planet Water Foundation Executive Chairman, has seen
first-hand the value and impact the partnership with Xylem Watermark has
brought to his organization’s global efforts. “Thanks to Xylem and Xylem
Watermark, we can double our impact and provide resources needed to
secure safe water and sanitation in communities that need it the most,”
said Mr. Hill.
About Xylem
Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology provider, enabling
customers to transport, treat, test and efficiently use water in public
utility, residential and commercial building services, industrial and
agricultural settings. The company does business in more than 150
countries through a number of market-leading product brands, and its
people bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on finding
local solutions to the world’s most challenging water and wastewater
problems. Xylem is headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 2014
revenues of $3.9 billion and approximately 12,500 employees worldwide.
Xylem was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last four
years for advancing sustainable business practices and solutions
worldwide and the Company has satisfied the requirements to be a
constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series each year since 2013.
The name Xylem is derived from classical Greek and is the tissue that
transports water in plants, highlighting the engineering efficiency of
our water-centric business by linking it with the best water
transportation of all -- that which occurs in nature. For more
information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.
About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening
America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that
affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151007005235/en/
Source: Xylem Inc.
Xylem Inc.
Jennifer Jacob, +1-914-323-5754
Jennifer.Jacob@xyleminc.com
or
U.S.
Chamber Foundation
Bailey Jacobs, +1-202-463-5766
BJacobs@USChamber.com