We are delighted to announce Gabriel Rodriguez has received the Water For People Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award 2018. The ceremony took place at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference and Expo (ACE18) held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Gabriel is a Water Resources Project Engineer at Bennett Engineering Services, where he assists communities to provide clean water and sanitation services to their residents.
As the Water For People Sacramento committee nomination stated: “His passion for water led him to join the Sacramento committee for Water For People in 2015. That same year, Gabriel stepped up as a committee Co-chair and Treasurer. He has helped plan and manage all the annual World Water Day speaking events, bowling fundraisers, and Water Slam softball tournaments. He was one of two people on the committee to participate in a month-long jog-a-thon that raised funds for Water For People. Additionally, Gabriel played a critical role in the local coordination and logistics of the ‘Make Water From Wine’ fundraising event hosted by the California-Nevada (CA-NV) Section AWWA during the 2016 AWWA Annual Spring Conference in Sacramento.
“Gabriel continues to work closely with the parent CA-NV AWWA region on preparing yearly budgets, establishing fundraising event goals and actuals, and providing insurance for events. He maintains the local committee’s Facebook page, and actively keeps local industry professionals and students informed of upcoming Water For People events.
“Gabriel embodies all five core values of Water For People: accountability, courage, empowerment, partnership, and transparency. Gabriel has played an essential role in the Sacramento committee for Water For People for the past three years. He keeps the committee energized, community engaged, and works diligently to make fundraising events successful.”
Bennett Engineering Services is committed to continuing our support for Water For People and Gabriel’s participation in the organization.
About the Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award
The Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award was established in 2001 by the Board of Directors of Water For People to honor outstanding volunteer service to this international humanitarian effort. Water For People was conceived in response to the water, sanitation and health needs of millions of families living in the developing world.
The award was named to honor Ken Miller, who was one of Water For People’s founders, and supporter throughout his career. Each year, Water For People’s volunteer committees nominate one person for the award for the year. The winner is recognized and presented with a plaque at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference and Expo (ACE) during the Miller Award luncheon.
For more information: Kenneth Miller Award
About Water For People
From its beginnings, Water For People was envisioned to be a volunteer effort of the North American water and wastewater communities. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) leaders who organized Water For People believed that water professionals throughout North America would recognize the urgent need to support such a cause by contributing their financial assistance, organizational skills, and professional expertise. Local groups of water and sanitation professionals launched hundreds of active programs in support of Water For People. As the organization grew and began to accomplish its vision of service, it became evident that extraordinary volunteer efforts were being made at the local level and that this dedicated work needed to be publicly acknowledged and honored.
The search for a model individual to exemplify the value of volunteer service and to underscore the importance of this award led immediately to Kenneth J. Miller, one of the founders of Water For People and its first president.
For more information: Water For People
About the American Water Works Association
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is an international nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest and oldest organization of water supply professionals in the world. Its more than 50,000 individual members represent the full spectrum of the drinking water community: treatment plant operators and managers, scientists, environmentalists, manufacturers, academicians, regulators and others who hold a genuine interest in water supply and public health. Membership includes more than 4,000 utilities that supply water to roughly 180 million people in North America.
For more information: AWWA