Even though the holidays are over, the FirstEnergy Foundation is still making spirits bright for a number of organizations, through our Gifts of the Season program.

“At the end of each year, the FirstEnergy Foundation presents surprise contributions to selected nonprofits in our service area. The recipients are chosen by FirstEnergy External Affairs employees who identified organizations in their local areas that do extraordinary work to strengthen the community and enhance the lives of vulnerable and underserved individuals,” said Lorna Wisham, president, FirstEnergy Foundation. “We’re proud to support these organizations so they can continue to provide services to help during these uncertain times.”

Here are a few examples of our 2022 Gifts of the Season presentations.

The NWPA (Northwest Pennsylvania) Pride Alliance received a $10,000 grant. Brian Paganie, consultant, Regional External Affairs, Penelec (r.) presented the check to Alex Sphon, NWPA Pride Alliance. The organization works to improve the visibility of the LGBTQ+(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning) community in the greater Erie area.

L.-r.: Dave Conley, consultant, Regional External Affair (CEI), presented a $20,000 grant to Kristen Pepera and Lisa Pepera, Colors + Youth Center in Fairview Park, Ohio. The organization’s mission is to strengthen LGBTQ+  youth and allies by promoting individual and community wellness.

 The Village of Healing Center in Euclid, Ohio, received a $20,000 grant. The center delivers quality health care services that meet the social and cultural needs of patients, and improving health outcomes and quality of care that eliminates racial and ethnic health disparities.

At the presentation, l.-r.: Brent Coakley, director, Ohio Operations, Cleveland/Central; Da’na Langford, Village of Healing; and Darnella Robertson, consultant, Regional External Affairs.

The Arc of Lehigh and Northampton Counties received a $10,000 grant. The nonprofit promotes a life of inclusion, opportunity and equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This gift will support expanding the program to the Easton Area School District, which is served by Met-Ed.

Thea Lind, consultant, Regional External Affairs (r.) presented the check to Chris Kaklamanis.

Receiving a surprise $20,000 Gifts of the Season donation, ACRES (Adults Creating Residential and Employment Solutions) in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, offers workforce development and living skills designed for adults with autism by adults with autism. The organization’s mission is to foster social, vocational and self-advocacy skills to increase independence and quality of life.

L.-r.: Adam Fernsler, ACRES; Joleen Hindman, consultant, Regional External Affairs; and Bellamarie Bregar, Cathy Prosek, Mary Krupa and Anne Peno, ACRES.

A $10,000 grant was presented to York County Veterans Outreach (YCVO) that was created to honor, remember and serve our veterans and their families. The organization also partners with and financially supports other nonprofits that provide resources and programs for York County’s veteran community, such as the Central PA Food Bank, which provides food for six MilitaryShare Food Distribution locations.

L.-r.: Kevin Eck, consultant, Regional External Affairs; Susan Byrnes, YCVO; and Mark Sondag, director, Pennsylvania Operations, York Region.

Josh Cross, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l.), presented a $7,000 check to Jim Zahora, CEO of The Abilities Connection (TAC) in Springfield, Ohio (r.). Pictured with Josh and Jim are Jennifer and Chris, TAC clients. TAC provides recreational, educational and art activities and programs so individuals with disabilities are given an opportunity to thrive in Clark County.

Two organizations in our Toledo Edison service area received Gifts of the Season grants: Sunshine Communities, Inc. in Maumee, and Grace Community Center in Toledo. These two Lucas County organizations provide support services to underserved and vulnerable individuals of all ages across northwest Ohio.

At the Sunshine Communities, Inc. check presentation are, l.-r.: Shannon Bova and Markie Miller, Sunshine; Garry Byers, manager, Operations; Cindy Kerr, Sunshine; Trina Myers, Customer Account specialist V; Meg Adams, consultant, Regional External Affairs; and Jim Veglia, director, Operations. Sunshine Communities, Inc. supports people of all ages with developmental disabilities through residential, vocational, clinical, therapeutic and recreational services.

At Grace Community Center’s check presentation are, l.-r.: Trina Myers; Mike Hosier, director, Operations; Meg Adams; Elaine Page, Grace Community Center; and Taneaka Haley, manager, Operations. Grace Community Center’s mission is to foster the health and well-being of children and adults through programs that promote food security, education and career readiness and quality service living.

ArtsAltoona received a $10,000 Gifts of the Season grant. The nonprofit’s mission is to connect people to the arts to strengthen our communities. It offers Empowering Arts for Women, which is a free program for women in recovery from addiction.

L.-r.: Jim Crowder, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l.), presented the check to Donna Gority, Leah Klevan and Sherry Dilling, ArtsAltoona.

Keystone Military Families in Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, received a $10,000 grant. Keystone provides groceries, clothing, household items and furniture assistance to active-duty military and their families, as well as veterans. The Veterans and Allies PA East Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG) has been a long-time supporter of this organization and members volunteer regularly.

L.-r.: Heather Stoudt, advanced business analyst and Angela Anderson, staff business analyst, and members of the Veterans and Allies PA East EBRG, are joined by Keystone volunteers David Marsh, distribution technician IV, lines, and Kate Marsh, retiree; along with Kyle Lord, Keystone.

Empowerment Center Inc., in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, a nonprofit training center whose mission is provide a pathway out of poverty for the unemployed and underemployed, received a $10,000 grant.

Front row, l.-r., holding the check are Carmen Santiago and Maribel Torres, WEPA, and Marisela Fuster FirstEnergy Workforce Development representative. Back row, l.-r., Rafael Torres,  Lee Smedley, Solomon Ortiz, Alisher Aminov and John Tice, WEPA.

Wings of an Angel is an organization that helps children and adults with developmental disabilities to live their best life. The nonprofit received a $6,000 grant.

At the check presentation with Joe Jakubick, consultant, Regional External Affairs (l.), are Wings of an Angel representatives, l.-r.:  Valerie Rinehart, Dakota Bosley, Chelsea Stutz, Heidi Ballinger and Ryan Ballinger.

The Lucy Idol Center in Vermilion, Ohio, received a $7,000 Gifts of the Season grant.  The center seeks to increase access to high quality, essential care through meaningful programming and services for adults with diverse intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Lorain and Erie counties.

L.-r.: Mike Hosier, director, Operations; Nick Katsaros, consultant, Regional External Affairs; Tad Peck, Lucy Idol Center; and Dan DeVille, manager, Regional External Affairs.

 
The Potential Development School received a $10,000 grant. Potential Development is a prekindergarten-12^th grade school for children with autism. It provides a safe, structured, educational environment with supportive services that give students the necessary skills and independence to lead a productive life.

Troy Rhoades, consultant, Regional External Affairs (c.) is shown with staff, teachers, students and Milo, a robot designed to help students who may have complications with communication skills.