H2O Foundation

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The Help 2 Others Foundation or H2O Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2003 by the Birmingham Water Works Board and the Salvation Army Birmingham Area Command. The Foundation offers assistance to elderly or disabled ratepayers who are unable to afford their water bills, or to repair leaks in their homes. The H2O Foundation's offices are located in the Wooten Building at 720–724 37th Street South in the Highland Office Park.

Funds for the program are solicited from individual and corporate donors, as well as from grants and fund-raising events. Regular small donations are solicited from utility employees via paycheck deduction, and via an optional checkbox on customers' monthly statements to add $1 per month to the bill to support the foundation. Relief for eligible recipients is capped at $500 per person per year.

In 2009 the Foundation received a $500,000 donation from Jeffrey Palmer as part of his $5 million purchase of 3,200 acres of undeveloped land bordering the Locust Fork River, which the Water Works Board declared to be "surplus".

The foundation reported $1.33 million in assets at the end of 2019. In 2020 the Water Works Board approved a resolution revising its Customer Service Assistance Program and directing $1.25 million from Jefferson County and $1.2 million from the utility's emergency reserves into the foundation's account, with the aim of establishing a staffed office in the Birmingham Water Works Customer Service Building. In March 2022 the non-profit began operating from its present offices in South Avondale-Forest Park.

In 2022 it was reported that the foundation had distributed all of its funds before the end of the year. Billing issues from the utility may have contributed to the shortfall. In February 2023 the Water Works Board voted to increase their contribution to the foundation from $100,000 to $150,000.

When the Birmingham Water Works was reconstituted by the Alabama State Legislature by Act of Alabama 2025-297, the law included a clause saying that "A regional board may not make payments to any municipality, county, or other entity except for reasonable consideration in payment for qoods or services required in the operation or management of the systems operated by the regional board." The new Central Alabama Water board cited that clause in denying a petition to support the foundation.

Executive directors

References

  • Spencer, Thomas (August 21, 2009) "Birmingham Water Works Board votes to sell its 3,200 acres on the Locust Fork River to Tuscaloosa businessman Jeffrey Todd Palmer in a $5 million deal." The Birmingham News
  • Crenshaw, Solomon Jr (August 14, 2019) "Jefferson County Commission Asks Water Board for Pledge to Help Needy Customers." BirminghamWatch
  • Rebman, Stephanie (March 9, 2022) "H2O Foundation opens headquarters in Avondale." Birmingham Business Journal
  • Gann, Heather (December 6, 2022) "Non-profit that helps Birmingham Water Works customers pay bills out of money for 2022." AL.com
  • Gann, Heather (February 13, 2023) "Birmingham Water Works Board approves $150,000 in donations to the H2O Foundation for this year." AL.com
  • McMurrey, Olivia (June 25, 2025) "Birmingham Water Works Board Changes Name, Will Do Business as Central Alabama Water." BirminghamWatch
  • Harwell, Harper & Stephanie Rebman (February 5, 2026) "H2O Foundation names new executive director." {Birmingham Business Journal
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