Pasadena Utility’s Children’s Storybook Earns National Honor for Creative Workforce Outreach

A Pasadena Water and Power children’s storybook featuring the “Outtawatta Family” has earned the utility national recognition—and marked the second consecutive year the community-owned utility has been honored for its public communications.

PWP was named the sole recipient of an Award of Excellence in the Print/Digital category by the American Public Power Association for Kate’s Career Date, a storybook designed to introduce students to the wide variety of careers in the utility industry.

The utility also received an Award of Merit—one of three recipients—for an animated video version of the same story.

The association’s annual communications awards program acknowledges utilities that demonstrate ingenuity and creativity in storytelling through outstanding copy, design, graphics, video editing, and web interactivity, according to APPA. The awards were presented last month in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized once again by the American Public Power Association for our creative outreach efforts,” said David Reyes, PWP’s general manager. “The ‘Outtawatta Family’ storybook and animated video are part of our commitment to inspiring the next generation and making utility careers more accessible and engaging for young minds.”

PWP provides electricity to more than 65,000 customers within Pasadena and delivers water to nearly 38,000 households and businesses in Pasadena and adjacent communities in the San Gabriel Valley.

As a community-owned utility, PWP operates as a not-for-profit public service owned and operated by the City of Pasadena for the benefit of its customers and the community.

The award-winning storybook and other family-friendly learning materials are available at PWPweb.com/Education.