Employees for Atlas Copco North America have donated $60,000 to the New York City-based group charity: water, a non-profit that works to bring clean drinking water to developing nations. The donation, made through the employee-run Water for All organization, was part of celebrations of the company’s 140th anniversary.

 

"charity: water is incredibly grateful to Atlas Copco's Water for All program and their most recent gift to help bring clean water to the people of Ethiopia, including two schools and one community water project,” said charity: water founder and CEO Scott Harrison. “Achieving 140 years of business success is no small feat, and we're honored that they've chosen to celebrate this anniversary in a way that will truly make a difference.”

 

The non-profit’s website says unsafe water and lack of sanitation kill more people than all forms of violence, including war. It also says getting access to water can often take hours a day for women and children in some countries, time that takes away from school, work and caring for families. One dollar invested, charity: water says, can yield $4-$12 for local economies, depending on the project.

 

Water for All supports projects and organizations to provide safe, clean water and sanitation to people in need. Donations enable non-profit partners to dig, drill and protect wells, and to fund rainwater collection and sanitation systems. Water for All has helped more than one million people get access to clean drinking water since 1984. It has given $161,000 to charity: water since 2010.

 

“Water for All has remained close to the heart of Atlas Copco since its founding by employees in 1984,” said Jim Levitt, president of Atlas Copco North America. “We are proud of our employees’ ongoing efforts to raise money and awareness, which allows us to support worthy organizations like charity: water and also reinforces our commitment to sustainability.”

 

Atlas Copco, based in Stockholm, Sweden, is a leader in segments ranging from compressors and air treatment systems to construction, mining and drilling equipment. The company, founded in 1873, prides itself on sustainable productivity.

 

It has more than 37,500 employees worldwide and operates in more than 170 countries. Atlas Copco North America operates in more than 109 locations and employs more than 4,500 people in the United States. For more information, visit www.atlascopco.us.