Many years ago my grandmother made the statement, "Everyone I know is either dead, or dying." I thought it was an odd statement since everyone I knew was either getting married or having kids. Your perspective depends on who you run with. Contrary to the perception from popular media, not all companies are cutting dividends, many are still raising them, and some are starting a new dividend program.

This week is no different, the dividend increases continue with several companies sharing the wealth with their shareholders through higher cash dividends:

Kaydon (NYSE: ) designs, manufactures, and sells custom engineered products in North America, Europe, and Asia.  Recently, the company increased its quarterly 5.9% to $0.18/share. The dividend is payable October 5, 2009 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 14, 2009.  The current yield based on the new dividend is 2.22%.

American Water Works (NYSE: ) provides water, wastewater and other water-related services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the United States and Canada.  Last week, the company raised its quarterly cash dividend by 5% to $0.21/share. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2009 to all shareholders of record as of August 18, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 4.20%.

Atrion (NASDAQ: ) designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells and distributes various products and components, primarily for the medical and health care industry. Tuesday,the company boosted its quarterly cash dividend 20% to $0.36/share. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2009. The current yield based on the new dividend is 1.10%.

Leggett & Platt (NYSE: ) makes a broad line of bedding and furniture components and other home, office, and commercial furnishings, as well as diversified products for non-furnishings markets.