April 30, 2022

In addition to delivering electricity to the areas we serve, FirstEnergy brings another form of energy: the power to make our communities stronger. We do this through the tireless volunteerism of our employees, as well as the financial support from the FirstEnergy Foundation and corporate charitable contributions. Here are a few examples.

Assisting Students and the Economy

We’re helping to bring student housing, classrooms and jobs to downtown Reading, Pa., in our Met-Ed service area. The FirstEnergy Foundation donated $250,000 to Alvernia University to help fund its new engineering program at Reading CollegeTowne – a major economic development initiative to help revitalize the Penn Street corridor.

The grant makes FirstEnergy Foundation one of four founding members of the Alvernia University Engineering Program, which offers tracks in electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering. The grant also will help equip the new FirstEnergy Foundation Engineering Lab for students to design, develop and test electric motors, communication systems and power generation machinery.

“We’re proud to join other community partners in helping to support this transformational $20-million initiative that will enable 1,000 students to live and learn downtown,” said Lorna Wisham, president of the FirstEnergy Foundation. “In addition to bringing more than 300 permanent jobs and resources downtown, Reading CollegeTowne will create a perpetual pipeline of college graduates with STEM-related skills to help meet the workforce needs of area businesses.”

David Turner, manager, Regional External Affairs (far r.), is with Alvernia University representatives, l.-r., Thomas Minick, vice president for Institutional Advancement; Rodney Ridley, vice president of Research, Economic Development and Innovation; McKenzy Lilliock, MBA student and O’Pake Institute Fellow; and John R. Loyack, president.

Expanding Opportunities for Diverse Businesses in Northeast Ohio

As part of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts, FirstEnergy has committed to a goal of achieving 20% of our Supply Chain spend with diverse suppliers by 2025. A good example is our recent $1-million charitable contribution to UBIZ Venture Capital. UBIZ is a small business lending program affiliated with the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, a 501(c)(3) organization. The program provides counseling, technical assistance and loans to African American and minority-owned businesses with high-growth potential that are having difficulty securing capital.

The FirstEnergy grant will be used to establish the new “UBIZ Access Fund II,” which will make loans to qualifying minority-owned or controlled small businesses located in Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake and Lorain counties. FirstEnergy’s contribution will be paid in quarterly installments of $250,000.

“By contributing to UBIZ Venture Capital, our goal is to help minority-owned businesses make a positive economic impact in our northeast Ohio service area, with the hope that some of these companies become FirstEnergy suppliers,” said Rich Sweeney, vice president, Supply Chain. “Supporting UBIZ is an extension of our existing Diverse Supplier Development Program, which involves mentorship and training for minority-owned businesses throughout the FirstEnergy footprint. UBIZ has a strong history of identifying and successfully supporting minority businesses and we look forward to partnering with them.”

In 2021, FirstEnergy achieved 16% of Supply Chain spending with diverse suppliers.

Keeping Your Family and Home Safe

We’re proud to continue our annual support of the American Red Cross with a $250,000 charitable contribution for the Disaster Responder Program. The grant will support initiatives that promote health and safety, including the Sound the Alarm safety campaign to help protect families from home fires. The initiative runs until May 31. Check out Are You Ready? to learn more about Sound the Alarm.

At the presentation, l.-r.: Ed Shuttleworth, president, Ohio Operations; Rachel D’Attoma, executive director, Greater Akron and Mahoning Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross; Jill Patterson, senior Regional Philanthropy officer, American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region; Lorna Wisham, vice president, Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement; and Michael Parks, regional CEO, American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region.