September 8, 2022

Nonprofit organizations in our service territory are benefitting from our recent round of Investing with Purpose (IWP) check contributions. FirstEnergy’s IWP was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created health, financial and educational hardships for customers across our footprint. IWP also responded to the events of 2020 that highlighted racial and social injustices impacting our nation.

With those issues in mind, the FirstEnergy Foundation identified philanthropic opportunities to respond to the needs of vulnerable populations within our service territory.

“Many of our communities are still facing significant hardships due to the pandemic. Nonprofit organizations on the frontline of our current health and economic crisis have realigned to support needs in the community, including housing, workforce development and training, and the continued support of our healthcare workers,” said Lorna Wisham, vice president of Corporate Affairs & Community Involvement and president of the FirstEnergy Foundation. “We’ve witnessed the positive impact these grants made for deserving organizations in 2020, and we look forward to seeing how the second round of contributions will help strengthen the communities we serve.

Here are a few examples of how our IWP grants are assisting with healthcare needs in our communities.

Met-Ed

(L.) Shayne Smith, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l.), presented a $50,000 check to the Byrnes Health Education Center in York, Pa. The funds will be used to enhance the center’s technological equipment and programs which will improve the reach to virtual learners. Holding the check is Lyndsey Mackie, Byrnes Health Education Center. (R.) Elaine Vincent, advisor, Community Involvement (third r.), and Gary Mason, Senior Policy & Support specialist (far r.), delivered a $50,000 check for St. Luke’s Hospital in Stroudsburg, Pa. With Elaine and Gary are St. Luke’s representatives, l.-r.: Rajika Reed, Carla Thomas, Don Seiple and Rosemarie Lister.

JCP&L

Bob Flynn, consultant, Regional External Affairs (fourth r.), and Nicholas Edmonds, Customer Account specialist (third from r.), presented a $50,000 check for Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pompton Plains, N.J. The funding will support the facility’s Advanced Critical Care Nursing education program. Hospital representatives were on hand for the check presentation.

The Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation for Jersey Shore University Medical Center received a $125,000 check. The funds will be used for expansion of the center’s new Healthy Connections program. The program serves 1,500 patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes and/or hypertension along with identified food insecurity.

At the check presentation, l.-r.: John Quinn, AnnaMarie Cutroneo and Vito Buccellato, Jersey Shore University Medical Center; Jackie DeFelice, Customer Account specialist V; Elaine Vincent; and Nicole Harris Hollingsworth, Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation.

Toledo Edison

Meg Adams, consultant, Regional External Affairs (r.) presented an $18,000 check to Robin Isenberg of the National Alliance Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater Toledo. The grant will be used to provide much[1]needed mental health services for residents of all ages.