West Chester University: Essential Utilities Presents $75,000 Check To WCU Resource Pantry To Help Minimize Food ...

Press release from West Chester University:

November 22, 2021

Since the Resource Pantry opened its doors in 2016, demand has increased ten-fold.
During the previous in-person academic year (2018-19), the Pantry served more than
800 students and recorded 5,100 total visits. During that time, it also distributed
nearly 20,000 pounds of food; 16,000 personal care products; 2,600 school supplies;
and more than 650 articles of clothing.

“Essential Utilities is honored to support the West Chester University Resource Pantry
to minimize food and basic-need insecurities,” said Mr. Franklin, who knows firsthand
about WCU students’ needs as he currently serves as a member of the University’s Council
of Trustees and is a WCU alumnus. “As a company committed to providing safe and reliable
access to the earth’s most vital resources, Essential recognizes that basic needs
are critical to everyday life. We hope this donation will enable the Resource Pantry
to help those who find themselves needing some additional support now as well as those
who may one day reach out to seek assistance in the future.”

The Resource Pantry is open to all WCU students and is central to upholding the University’s
mission to ensure student success and provide access to a college education, regardless
of financial circumstances. Offering a supply of non-perishable food, fresh produce
from campus gardens, personal care items, school supplies, and winter and career clothing,
the Resource Pantry helps eliminate barriers to degree completion and empowers students
to learn independent living skills and achieve long-term stability.

“West Chester University is truly grateful to Essential Utilities for supporting our
students in such an impactful way,” said President Fiorentino. “This company’s actions
demonstrate what it means to truly meet students where they are currently in their
lives. By providing the basic resources that our students need to live as well as
to excel, Essential Utilities is investing in their overall success and helping this
University make a bold statement that it will work to ensure access to hardworking
students no matter what their financial situations may be.”

Essential Utilities is a Diamond Sponsor of WCU’s 150th Anniversary Celebration and a continued partner in helping WCU students advance inside
the classroom as well as outside the classroom. Under its former company name of Aqua
America, the utility company previously gifted $50,000 to the University’s College
of Business and Public Management.

About Essential UtilitiesEssential is one of the largest publicly traded water, wastewater and natural gas
providers in the U.S., serving approximately 5 million people across 10 states under
the Aqua and Peoples brands. Essential is committed to excellence in proactive infrastructure
investment, regulatory expertise, operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.
The company recognizes the importance water and natural gas play in everyday life
and is proud to deliver safe, reliable services that contribute to the quality of
life in the communities it serves. For more information, visit http://www.essential.co.

Sponsors of West Chester University’s 150th Anniversary

Celebrations throughout West Chester University’s 150th Anniversary year are made
possible by the generosity of community partners. Presenting Sponsor: Aramark. Platinum Sponsors: Student Services, Inc. and West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. Diamond Sponsors: Essential Utilities and WCU Alumni Association. Gold Sponsor: BB&T (Now Truist). Bronze Sponsors: IMS Technology Services and Meridian Bank. Purple Sponsors: Barnaby's West Chester; Clark Associates, Inc.; First Bank; MacElree Harvey; Northwestern
Mutual; PSECU; Radius Systems; SEI Investments Company; TD Bank; Univest Financial;
and Visual Sound.

This press release was produced by West Chester University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.