October 1, 2022

With the loosening of pandemic restrictions, there were a number of opportunities to support community events, fundraisers and more – including many focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion. And that’s just what FirstEnergy employees did this summer! Here are a few noteworthy examples:

More than 100 FirstEnergy employees, along with their family and friends, showed their commitment to promoting equality at the Akron Equity March & Pride Festival on Aug. 27. Alternate Current – FirstEnergy’s LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer) Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) – organized our participation as its signature event. The FirstEnergy Foundation was a presenting sponsor of the overall festival. In addition to the march, Alternate Current members staffed a booth where festival goers could learn more about  FirstEnergy and meet Louie the Lightning Bug.

Watch this video from the Akron Pride Festival.

FirstEnergy members of Black Greek letter organizations volunteered to read at Emmanuel Christian Academy in Akron. This was part of the Black College Hall of Fame Classic Weekend’s Reading Playbook Program. The book, Alexander Red and the Color Squad, uses minority student characters to navigate issues such as self-esteem, bullying, absent parents and other challenges. FirstEnergy provided enough books for every middle school student at Emmanuel and participating Canton schools.

Volunteer readers, l.-r.: Erica Rocker, engineer IV; Robin Garnett, Customer Service associate; V. Rena Suber, Emmanuel Christian Academy; Darryl Easterling, Asset Management analyst IV; Torey Tolson, consultant, Corporate Oversight & Community Involvement; and April Jefferson, senior Communications representative.

FirstEnergy was proud to sponsor this year’s Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic. The Black College Football Hall of Fame is working to build a permanent home on the grounds of the Pro Football Hall of Fame campus in Canton, Ohio, to highlight players who have excelled at football and attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). WZAK 93.1 FM radio broadcasted live from the game’s family tailgate event sponsored by FirstEnergy, where attendees enjoyed live entertainment, music, games, vendors, poetry and more. FirstEnergy’s HBCU Ambassador Network provided 35 students from Akron Garfield High School – among others – with the opportunity to attend the game.

(L.) L.-r.: Tonya Shelton, Human Relations representative V; Asia Williams-Armstead, business analyst; and LA Dickson-Gilliam, Customer Account specialist II, enjoyed the game festivities. (R.) The FirstEnergy Foundation contributed $5,000 for the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival (WVBHF) in downtown Clarksburg. Tim Pingley, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l,), presented the check to Jim Griffen, WVBHF. The festival’s mission is to “promote the African American experience, while addressing the many milestones that our forefathers have made since the Emancipation Proclamation.”

On June 18, our Alternate Current EBRG participated in the Fairmont (W.Va.) Pride event. More than 110 people – ranging from children to adults – attended the event, which was organized by the city’s PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) organization. Julie Chadwell, associate business analyst and former Alternate Current secretary, coordinated our participation. With the theme of Picnic in the Park, the event catered to LGBTQ+ families and allies with young children and offered various community resources through organizations like United Way, Legal Aid and Children’s Services.

(L.) Matt Smaby, transmission procedure specialist and Alternate Current secretary, offered children’s activities during the event. (R.) The African American Heritage Festival in Altoona, Pa., received a $5,000 FirstEnergy Foundation grant. This year’s event was the first since 2014 – after the festival was discontinued due to lack of finances. The two-day festival brings African American cult

Employee volunteers participated in the Reading Pride Event on July 17. They distributed energy saving brochures, discussed billing assistance programs and provided information on current entry-level positions for our Power Systems Institute training program and the Reading Call Center.

L.-r.: Customer Contact Center supervisors Rachel Kachel and Alta Bachtlin, and Guy Ryno, scrum master III, Innovation & Digital Factory. The Pagoda art seen in the photo was designed by Raeann Ringler, Customer Service representative II.

Frank Luna, consultant, Regional External Affairs, presented a $2,000 check to Bridging the Gap for Veterans. The Manasquan, N.J., organization helps open career doors for veterans by providing business attire at no cost and connecting employers with veteran job candidates.

Frank (l.) is joined by Bridging the Gap leaders Mike Ferraro (c.) and Bob Smyth.

A group of FirstEnergy employees, family members and friends at the Cleveland Pride March in June.