Honoring the Past

March 4, 2022

It’s vital that future generations understand the importance of the past – and how it can affect the future. The FirstEnergy Foundation is supporting historical efforts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to ensure future generations continue to learn.

Our employees delivered a $10,000 FirstEnergy Foundation donation to the T. Thomas Fortune Foundation in Red Bank, N.J. Fortune was an orator, author, publisher and civil rights leader. The foundation has preserved his home as a cultural center dedicated to African-American history and social justice. This funding supports expansion of the center’s educational opportunities by creating a curriculum for youth to advance Fortune’s social justice work through urban planning, an entrepreneur institute and the arts including journalism.

At the check presentation are, l.-r.: Judy Jones-Glover, business analyst; Ron Crocker, retiree and T. Thomas Fortune Foundation board member; Gilda Rogers, executive director; and Frank Luna, consultant, Regional External Affairs.

Andrea Bortoluzzi, consultant, Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement. (c.), presented a $5,000 FirstEnergy Foundation check to John Lukacs and Melanie Litz of the Export (Pa.) Historical Society. The funds supported the veterans monument and restoration of the Roll of Honor. The project was financed exclusively by grants and private donations. Kathy Wilson, business technician IV, was very instrumental in seeing this project to completion.

Joleen Hindman, consultant, Regional External Affairs (r.). virtually presented a $1,000 FirstEnergy Foundation check to Cindy Hahn, executive director of C-NET government access television in Centre County, Pa., for coverage of the 2021 Juneteenth celebration and the 58th anniversary of the March on Washington.