Recipients provide key services to
communities within Mon Power's service area
FAIRMONT, W.Va., Dec. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mon Power,
a FirstEnergy Corp (NYSE: FE) electric company, recently
presented surprise $6,650 donations
to three nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the
quality of life in West Virginia
communities served by the company. The gifts were presented on
behalf of the FirstEnergy Foundation as part of its annual holiday
"Gifts of the Season" campaign.
The recipients of this year's gifts are Libera, Inc., the West
Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (WVSILC) and Centers
Against Violence, which all serve residents in need.
Watch a video explaining how these FirstEnergy Foundation
grants will strengthen West
Virginia communities on FirstEnergy's YouTube
channel.
Lorna Wisham, President of the
FirstEnergy Foundation: "We're pleased to make these donations
to organizations that are doing extraordinary work and providing
meaningful support to the West
Virginia communities we serve. The recipients were chosen by
FirstEnergy employees, who identified organizations in their local
areas that strengthen the community and enhance the lives of
vulnerable and underserved individuals."
Libera, Inc., is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building
brighter futures for youth and young women in West Virginia. Founded in 2015, Libera has
traveled across the state listening to girls' stories, connecting
them to resources and helping them find hope. Libera's programs
meet girls where they are in life and provide access to mentorship,
education and employment opportunities. Libera plans to apply the
funds toward a proposed community center and transitional housing
facility in Morgantown, located in
the heart of Mon Power's service area.
Kelsey Riggi, Director of
Strategic Initiatives at Libera: "This donation from the
FirstEnergy Foundation is a meaningful step toward our proposed
facility, which would enable us to provide housing to vulnerable
young women as well as a community center for all those we
serve."
WVSILC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the
value, equality, full inclusion and freedom of choice for all West
Virginians with disabilities. The organization is guided by the
independent living philosophy, which seeks to maximize the
leadership, empowerment, independence and productivity of
individuals with disabilities. WVSILC plans to use its donation
toward the purchase of equipment for a member wellness center at
its headquarters in Saint Albans, West
Virginia.
Jerry Boyko, Executive
Director, WVSILC: "A wellness center with exercise equipment
that is accessible for people with disabilities has been on our
wish list for some time. We're grateful to the FirstEnergy
Foundation for helping us to move forward with this project that
will enable West Virginians with disabilities to get and remain
healthy."
Centers Against Violence, formerly Women's Aid in Crisis,
provides comprehensive services to victims of domestic violence,
sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse and dating
violence in Barbour, Braxton, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur and Webster counties. Its services include a
24-hour crisis hotline, an emergency shelter, medical advocacy,
legal advocacy, crisis intervention, supportive services,
educational and support groups, transportation, referral to
community services and assistance in obtaining housing, legal,
occupational and financial services. The Centers Against Violence
staff and volunteers also offer community education to schools,
civic groups and community organizations in its service area.
Jennifer "JJ" Johnson, Executive Director, Centers Against
Violence: "We are so appreciative of this gracious donation
from the FirstEnergy Foundation, which will allow us to help more
clients get their basic needs met in a lot of different ways."
The "Gifts of the Season" initiative was created in 2016 to
support programs and nonprofit organizations that align with
FirstEnergy's core value of diversity, equity and inclusion. Since
its inception, the campaign has awarded about $1.1 million to nonprofit organizations that work
to strengthen communities through a diverse lens.
To be considered for a gift, the entity must be a first-time
FirstEnergy Foundation grant recipient, and the entity or at least
51% of its work must fall under one or more of the following
diverse categories:
- Service disabled/veteran-owned business enterprise
- Disability-owned business enterprise
- Minority business enterprise
- Lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer-owned business
- Woman business enterprise
The FirstEnergy Foundation provides support to 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt nonprofits, including health and human services
agencies, educational organizations, cultural and arts programs and
institutions, and civic groups in areas served by FirstEnergy's
electric operating companies and in areas where the company
conducts business.
Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power
at mon-power.com, on X @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook
at facebook.com/MonPowerWV.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, West Virginia,
Maryland and New York. The company's transmission
subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission
lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow
FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on
X @FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
