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Today, Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s General Manager, Kimberly Thorner, was presented with the Kenneth J. Miller Founders’ Award by Water For People, an international non-profit organization, for her efforts on American Water Works Association’s California-Nevada Section’s Water for People San Diego Committee. The award recognizes exceptional volunteers who are working to support water and sanitation in developing countries.

“I am extremely honored to receive this award,” said Ms. Thorner. “Water For People is one of my favorite charities. They support disadvantaged communities across the globe to improve their quality of life with water, sanitation, and hygiene services.”

Not only does Ms. Thorner perform volunteer work for the Water for People San Diego Committee behind the scenes, but she also appears on stage at its annual fundraising luncheon for water and wastewater professionals, which raised over $24,000 in 2024.

“I attended my first Water For People fundraising luncheon 14 years ago and I heard a speaker talk about how girls and women would disappear on long walks to water sources to fetch water. It hit me hard, as I realized, with young daughters of my own, how fortunate we were to have clean water from our taps at our fingertips. Since then, I have had the honor and pleasure of working on and emceeing the event 11 times,” said Ms. Thorner. “In addition to raising crucial funding, the event spotlights successful projects and emphasizes the need for Water For People worldwide. All the employees at OMWD hold this charity close to their hearts.”

For over 20 years, Ms. Thorner and OMWD employees have volunteered and contributed to Water For People events, recently raising thousands of dollars by assembling, selling, and purchasing holiday gift baskets. This effort represents 11 percent of the total proceeds from basket sales in San Diego County.

Ms. Thorner has also hosted “Walk for Water” fundraising walks at OMWD’s Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. The length of the walks, 6 kilometers, represents the average distance that women and girls in developing countries walk each day to fetch water for their families to use for drinking, bathing, and cooking.

“Kim Thorner has been an outstanding volunteer for Water For People in numerous ways over the years,” said Tom Alspaugh, who nominated Ms. Thorner for the award. “She has spearheaded support for Water For People’s events and activities, and in exemplifying excellent service, she is well deserving of the Miller award.”

General Manager Kimberly A. Thorner (left) with former OMWD board members Bob Topolovac (center) and Larry Watt (right) at a 2017 fundraising event.