As a utility, our daily mission is to provide our customers with safe and reliable electric and natural gas service. While this is our critical function, it is equally important to us that we maintain the wellbeing of the communities and people we serve—our customers, colleagues, family, friends and neighbors. NYSEG and RG&E, sister companies, were founded more than a century ago and throughout our history we have remained committed to investing in our communities where it matters most and supporting our neighbors.

In support of this value, we’re very proud to have recently donated a total of $54,000 to health and welfare organizations across New York state as part of our Corporate Donation Program to support and care for the communities that we serve.

“It has always been one of our priorities to connect with our communities by supporting local health and welfare organizations; however, this year we recognized that it’s more important than ever,” said Dave Gridley, Director of Government & Community Relations at NYSEG and RG&E. “The pandemic has created challenges within our communities that has increased demand for these organizations’ services and support. It was important to us at NYSEG and RG&E to do our part to support their critical efforts in our communities.”

In total, NYSEG and RG&E provided gifts and sponsorships to more than 20 health and welfare organizations across our service area, which includes more than 40% of Upstate New York State.

For RG&E, the company supported the following organizations: Action for a Better Community, American Red Cross of Greater Rochester, Baden Street Settlement House, Charles Settlement House, Genesee RiverWatch, Gilda’s Club Rochester, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, PathStone Foundation, and Rochester Regional Health Foundations.

“The COVID crisis has been challenging for everyone, including older adults,” said Ann Marie Cook, President and CEO of Lifespan. “We have had people calling Lifespan for help accessing food, prescription drugs and health care. We have had people tell us that they are lonely and isolated. We have had thousands of people call to get an appointment for the vaccine. We want to profusely thank RG&E for helping us support older adults during this crisis. We are very grateful that our entire community – including the business community – has come together to help everyone in the Rochester region.”

For NYSEG, the company supported the following organizations:

• All divisions: Salvation Army
• Binghamton Division: The Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference, Broome County Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Broome County and The American Red Cross Western NY Region
• Brewster Division: CoveCare Center, Westchester Community Opportunity Program and Lions Club of North Salem Community Betterment Fund
• Elmira Division: Pathways, Inc. and The American Red Cross Western NY Region
• Geneva Division: Seneca Housing
• Ithaca Division: Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County
• Lancaster Division: Family Promise of WNY
• Liberty Division: Action Towards Independence and Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless
• Mechanicville Division: CAPTAIN Community Human Services
• Oneonta Division: Caring for the Homeless Population Collaborative, Habitat for Humanity of Delaware County and The Family Services Association
• Plattsburgh Division: Autism Alliance of Northeast NY, Senior Citizens Council of Clinton County, Inc. and The Prevention Team

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought so many unforeseen challenges to non-profits,” said Luanne Firestone, Executive Director of Family Promise of WNY. “As a homeless shelter, we have had to modify everything in our shelter from rearranging the lay-out of furniture to modifying the way we cook and serve dinners to installing safety measures such as hand-sanitization stations throughout in order to keep our guests and staff safe. NYSEG is offering us critical support in these extremely challenging times. Their funds will go directly to helping us meet the needs of the homeless children and families we serve.”

In addition to these donations to local health and welfare nonprofits, we will also provide gifts and sponsorships later this year to local nonprofits focused on food security, arts and culture and education and young people as part of the 2021 Corporate Donation Program. These donations will impact every division within the NYSEG and RG&E service area.

NYSEG and RG&E’s support is enhanced by additional giving through the Avangrid Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the AVANGRID family of companies. Since 2002, the Foundation and its predecessors have invested more than $28 million in partnerships to help meet a number of community needs. In New York, the Avangrid Foundation has made more than $5.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and qualified programs during the last five years, including longstanding partnerships with locally affiliated chapters of Habitat for Humanity, The American Red Cross and the United Way.