California Water Service Company to Help Needy Through Annual Operation Gobble Program

SAN JOSE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 11/26/13 -- For the 25th consecutive year, California Water Service Company (Cal Water), the largest subsidiary of California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT), will donate Thanksgiving meals to thousands of needy families across California through a program called "Operation Gobble."

Since its inception in 1988, the state-wide program has fed hundreds of thousands of needy people. Local legislators participate in the program by recommending charities in their districts that can help with distribution.

This year, Cal Water will be distributing 8,500 gift certificates for the purchase of turkey or turkey products to more than 100 local charities in its service areas.

"We consider it a privilege to be able to provide meals to families who would otherwise go without. We are committed to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve, and this is one tangible way of doing that," said President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki.

According to Kropelnicki, Cal Water opts to provide gift certificates rather than frozen turkeys to provide flexibility to the charities and families that participate in the program. Gift certificates also eliminate the need for delivery trucks for heavy frozen birds, which is better for the environment.

Operation Gobble was initiated by the California Water Association (CWA), a consortium of privately-owned water utility companies throughout the state. Cal Water is a member of CWA and is the largest privately owned water utility in California. Additional information about the company may be obtained online at www.calwater.com.

Released November 26, 2013