American Water Employee Receives Alice Paul Equality Award.

VOORHEES, N.J. -- Lendel G. Jones, director of government affairs for American Water (NYSE:AWK), has received a 2008 Alice Paul Equality Award. The Alice Paul Institute, based in Mt. Laurel, N.J., established the awards to honor individuals who have demonstrated a strong and long-standing commitment to advancing women's equality in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley through advocacy, litigation, business leadership, education, scholarship or artistic expression.

The award was presented at a gala dinner on April 30, at the Hyatt Regency Princeton.

Jones has been with American Water, the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility company in the United States, for 17 years. She has risen from secretary to vice president of communications and government affairs for the company's northeast region to director of government affairs for its corporate headquarters in Voorhees, N.J. Today, she is responsible for setting strategy for government affairs for the company's service areas in 32 states and Ontario, Canada.

Throughout her career, Jones has been a champion for women both by example and by direct involvement in mentoring women in her industry. She was named 2006 Business Leader of the Year by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, and in 2000, received the Tribute to Women in Industry Award from the YWCA.

Jones also speaks to youth groups as well as students in Essex, Camden and Atlantic counties. Her goal is to encourage women to do their best and she thrives to see women get on top in the business world.

Jones understands and values the importance of being active in the community through her involvement with the N.J. Chapter of American Water Works Association's Water Utility Council, the N.J. Business and Industry Camden County Employer Legislative Committee, the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey's Legislative Affairs Committee, the Camden Board of Education Foundation, the Southern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts and member of The Haddonfield Symphony.

The Alice Paul Equality Awards are named in memory of Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977). Born in Mt. Laurel, N.J., Alice Paul dedicated her life to the single cause of securing equal rights for all women. Alice Paul led the final campaign for women's right to vote. After the 1920 victory, she authored the Equal Rights Amendment and initiated gender equality principles in both the United Nations Charter and in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Honorary co-chairs of the Alice Paul Equality Awards Committee are New Jersey State Senator Diane B. Allen and U. S. Congressman Robert E. Andrews.

Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs nearly 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15.6 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.