November 2, 2022

Here are some examples of our employees and the FirstEnergy Foundation supporting one of our Core Values: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, Toledo Edison employees volunteered at two Hispanic nonprofit agencies.

One group of employees helped to winterize a garden at the Sofia Quintero Arts and Cultural Center.

L.-r.: Taneaka Haley, manager, Operations; Joe and Joanne, Sofia Quintero; and  Trina Myer, Customer Account specialist IV,. Not pictured: Tyler Woody, general manager, Distribution Vegetation Management Operations; and Matt Tussing, Customer Account specialist IV.

A second group helped the Believe Center clean and organize its equipment room.

Taking a selfie, l.-r.: Lindey Kline, Customer Account specialist II; Customer Account’s Trina Myers; Trina’s son; Heather Weyandt, Customer Account specialist II. They are pictured with Elaina Hernandez, Believe Center.

Musser Gap Park and Recreation Authority in West Penn Power’s State College service area received the final of three $5,000 grants presented by the FirstEnergy Foundation donation in recent years.

Joleen Hindman, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l.), gave the check to Pam Salokangas, director, Park and Recreation Authority. The funds will help support the installation of the region’s first “We Play Together” all-ability and universally accessible playground.

Horses of Hope in West Penn Power’s Mill Hall area received a $3,000 FirstEnergy Foundation donation. The funds will help support the organization’s mission to use equine-assisted activities to provide physical, cognitive, emotional and social support to people with special needs, veterans and military personnel.

Joleen (l.) presented the check to Anne Gibson, as Billy, one of the therapeutic riding horses, looks on. Joleen also received a recognition plaque for the foundation’s support.

Josh Cross, consultant, Regional External Affairs, Ohio Edison (r.), presented a $4,000 FirstEnergy Foundation check to Suzie Carey, director of the Springfield Foundation and Aaron Clark, coordinator, city of Springfield Neighborhood Planning. The funding will support the city’s CultureFest, an annual event celebrating unity through diversity.

Frank Luna, consultant, Regional External Affairs, JCP&L (c.), joined the Central Jersey Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., in Asbury Park, for a $20,000 Investing with Purpose check presentation. The Central Jersey Club encourages mentorship and brings professional women together to improve social and civic conditions. The grant will support a leadership initiative.

Frank (c.) with club members.

A group of employees volunteered at the Valor Home of Akron. They relocated shelves from the pantry to the cafeteria, restocked food and supplies and reorganized the clothing donation closet. Valor Home supports veterans and their dependents in their efforts to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. Critical to this mission is the ability for individual veterans to find and retain permanent housing.

L.-r.: Kneeling, Matt Leininger, advanced business analyst; and Troy Rhoades, consultant, Regional External Affairs. Back row, Matt Kasinecz, senior process coach; Jeff Bowser, Cyber & Information Security analyst V; Barb Bower, business technician III; Diana Todd, business technician II; and Dewayne Edwards, manager, Transmission Metering.

Read more about employees keeping our communities strong in the current T