PSEG Celebrates the Power of Volunteerism
November 12 2009 - 11:08AM
PR Newswire (US)
Energy company recognizes exemplary employee volunteers and gives
$34,000 to the NJ nonprofit organizations they support NEWARK,
N.J., Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PSEG is celebrating the
power of volunteerism today by recognizing exemplary employee
volunteers and rewarding the nonprofit organizations they support.
The energy company will award 17 New Jersey nonprofits a total of
$34,000 in recognition of the work of employees who donate their
time and energy to philanthropic organizations throughout the
Garden State. The employees were formally recognized today by PSEG
Chairman Ralph Izzo and Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells at
an afternoon luncheon at the company's headquarters. "Though our
employees expend a great deal of energy at work, they still manage
to find time to give back and make their communities better," said
Ralph Izzo, PSEG chairman, president, and CEO. "We honor their
commitment and support their efforts. They are truly remarkable."
The nonprofits receiving the grants are as diverse as the employees
who support them. This year's recipient organizations provide
valuable services for youth, the homeless, disabled, elderly and
low-income families, and concentrate their efforts on areas such as
substance abuse, grief counseling, premature births, conservation
and animal rescue. Here is a list of the awardees: $10,000 Betty
Flood Award of Excellence: James Colligan of Wayne, NJ Wayne Little
League - Challenger Division - Wayne, NJ For Colligan, the founder
and vice president of Wayne Little League's Challenger Division, no
obstacle is too big and everyone can make an impact. He established
a baseball program for mentally and physically challenged children
ten years ago in an effort to enhance the lives of handicapped
children through sports. The program has grown over the last decade
to include over 100 volunteers and children from many NJ towns. In
addition to teaching kids about baseball, participation also
provides participants with the opportunity to experience the joys
of teamwork, being cheered, and earning awards. PSEG's grant will
help the league pay for equipment and supplies, and allow kids to
compete in regional and national games. $3,000 Award of
Achievement: Patricia D'Alia of Union, NJ Good Grief, Inc. -
Summit, NJ As a support group facilitator for The Good Grief
Center, D'Alia helps families heal after the death of loved ones.
She uses play, art therapy and group discussions to give children a
safe, loving and supportive environment to express themselves. This
program has helped young people avoid unhealthy or destructive
behavior by showing them better ways to cope with painful feelings.
The grant money from PSEG will be used to purchase classroom
supplies. Donald Massey of Summit, NJ The Network Youth Development
Program - Newark, NJ Massey is committed to helping Newark's
inner-city youth. As a mentor for The Network Youth Development
Program, he provides at-risk kids with support and encourages them
to avoid negative behaviors, learn the value of education, and make
well-informed decisions. The organization will use PSEG's grant
money for supplies and equipment for their academic, health,
recreation and performing arts programs. Karen Roots of Salem, NJ
Positive Impact Movement, Inc. - Salem, NJ Roots devotes much of
her life to making her community a better place to live. She
created a neighborhood development program called Positive Impact
Movement, which works with local officials and community leaders to
promote education, economic development and reduce crime. Her
efforts have helped protect residents in communities in Salem
County - especially youth and senior citizens. PSEG's grant money
will help the organization fund existing programs and new
initiatives. David Rower of Cranford, NJ The StreetLight Mission,
Inc. - Elizabeth, NJ Rower spends much of his time bringing help
and hope to others during their time of need. For almost ten years
he and his wife have provided the downtrodden of Union and Essex
County with warm meals, shelter, and guidance about how to live
productively. His work with the StreetLight Mission has helped many
individuals and families survive poverty, substance abuse and
homelessness. The grant money from PSEG will help cover operational
costs such as cell phone and utility bills. $1,000 Award of Merit:
James Christiano of Colonia, NJ Eagle Rock Reservation Conservancy
- Essex County, NJ Christiano's desire to protect local land and
his concern about protecting wildlife and the environment has
motivated him to dedicate his time to helping restore and maintain
Eagle Rock Reservation, a 400-plus acre county park located in West
Orange and Montclair, New Jersey. While he has done much over the
years, he most recently partnered with the local parks commission
to build a gazebo, install new sidewalks, plant trees, and rebuild
an old walking path. He helps the organization protect wildlife in
its natural habitat, while giving people a place to relax and
contemplate. PSEG's grant money will be used to purchase
landscaping tools. Patrick Halpin of Jamesburg, NJ Central New
Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America - Dayton, NJ Halpin has been
involved with the Boy Scouts since he was eight, and strives to
provide today's youth with the same life-long learning
opportunities that the organization gave him as a child. He manages
a number of scouting programs, as well as the camping and
properties committee. His efforts ensure a safe and fun campground
environment for over 7,000 scouts that use them year-round. The
PSEG grant will be used to make repairs to camp facilities, such as
improved access for the handicapped. Diane Jones of Hillsborough,
NJ March of Dimes - Cranbury, NJ Jones works tirelessly to raise
funds for the March of Dimes-Central Jersey Division and to
increase awareness about the importance of preventing birth
defects, premature births and infant mortality. She has worked for
many years to spread the word that prenatal care is critical to
ensuring that babies have a healthy start in life. The grant money
from PSEG will help fund research, community services, education
and advocacy to save babies' lives. Jenn Kramer of Hoboken, NJ Boys
& Girls Clubs in New Jersey -Statewide Kramer donates her time
and expertise to the Boys & Girls Clubs as a member of its
Marketing Advisory Board, a group of communications professionals
who put their skills to work to raise the visibility of the
organization in communities across New Jersey. She helps organize
forums that bring parents together with local and state leaders to
discuss hot topics impacting children, and she has spearheaded
professional and social networking initiatives. The money from PSEG
will support programs that enable young people to reach their full
potential, including the Youth of the Year and the Kool School
Music Academy. Kenneth Kubasta, Howard Londner and Walter Demeraski
of Fair Lawn, NJ Fair Lawn Borough Fire Co. #3, Inc. - Fair Lawn,
NJ Together, these three men have a combined 80 years of service as
Fair Lawn Borough volunteer firefighters. In addition to their
"normal" duties they are all active members of various fire company
committees and have served many years as fire officers. They give
their time freely, at all hours of the day and night, in an effort
to keep the community safe. PSEG's grant will be used to purchase
and install a back-up generator. Harry Mahoney of Branchburg, NJ
Cerebral Palsy of North Jersey - Livingston, NJ Mahoney became a
volunteer to help raise awareness about Cerebral Palsy of North
Jersey, and has been the chief organizer for the nonprofit's touch
football tournament for more than twenty years. His
responsibilities include developing the tournament schedule,
working with stadium officials, and recruiting teams. His efforts
have helped generate more than $1 million for programs that aid
infants, children and adults with disabilities. The grant money
from PSEG will help the organization continue enhancing the lives
of people with disabilities and other special needs. Tina Malinak
of Howell, NJ Marine Mammal Stranding Center - Brigantine, NJ
Malinak works to increase the public's knowledge, awareness and
motivation about marine mammals and sea turtles. Through the Marine
Mammal Stranding Center's outreach programs, she helped deliver
educational programs to hundreds of children this summer. Since
1975 the organization has responded to over 3,500 animals, with the
highest recovery/return rate on the East Coast - a success rate of
90% in live-seal strandings. The PSEG grant will help further the
nonprofit's ocean preservation work through public information and
internship programs. John McNiff of Tappan, NY Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart CYO - Tappan, NY McNiff knows that time on the
basketball court means more than just fun and exercise for the
youth of his parish -- it means the chance to provide an atmosphere
that offers the joys of competition and being involved with the
community. As co-director of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart CYO
basketball program, he gives his time and expertise to oversee all
aspects of the program, including registration, games, award
dinners, fundraisers, and training for coaches. The PSEG grant
money will be used to help expand the church's gym. William Metts
of Rutherford, NJ Northern NJ Council, Boy Scouts of America -
Oakland, NJ For over 25 years Metts has served in various positions
with the Boy Scouts of America. His fundraising efforts have helped
the nonprofit send almost 450 scouts to camp this year and make
extensive improvements to its campgrounds. The grant from PSEG will
help fund the development of existing and future programs that
enrich the lives of youth. Rosa Schmidt of North Brunswick. NJ
Junior Achievement of New Jersey, Inc. - Princeton, NJ For almost
ten years Schmidt has been inspiring and preparing young people to
be successful employees, consumers and business leaders of
tomorrow. As a volunteer instructor for Junior Achievement, she
puts her skills to use by teaching economic concepts to children -
stressing the relationship between school and future success. In
addition to her work in the classroom, she helps organize
fundraising activities and recruits new volunteers. PSEG's grant
money will help fund programs that enable the nonprofit to reach
new students. Tara Speyer of Elizabeth, NJ YM-YWHA of Union County
- Union, NJ Speyer makes a difference in the lives of children and
adults in her community as a member of the board of directors for
the YM-YWHA, a group that provides education, socialization and
recreation services to the people of Union County. She focuses her
efforts on fundraising, votes on all decisions related to monetary
issues, and has worked to restructure the group's extracurricular
day care and summer camp programs. The grant from PSEG will help
enhance the nonprofit's Early Childhood Center, providing a safe
and structured environment for children whose parents have no
alternative for child-care. Melissa Standing of Summit, NJ Summit
Performing Arts Resource Committee - Summit, NJ Standing has
combined her marketing and communications background with a love of
the performing arts. Her volunteer work enhances the way the
organization communicates to members and the community of Summit.
The PSEG grant money will help the Summit Performing Arts Resource
Committee to continue enriching the lives of local public school
students by exposing them to programs and productions that foster a
lifelong interest in theater, music and dance. "These award winners
are to be commended for their inspirational spirit of giving to
others. I am proud such efforts are being led by an increasingly
active corporate citizenry. PSEG also deserves high praise for its
commitment as a corporate volunteer leader, contributing to the
people and communities that it serves," said Secretary of State
Nina Mitchell Wells. "It is important to realize the crucial role
volunteerism plays in the delivery of philanthropic programs,
services and projects that enrich the quality of life in all of our
communities. I urge all New Jersey residents to get involved. We
need you more than ever," Secretary Wells added. Photos available
upon request. Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG) has
a long tradition of caring for New Jersey's people and communities.
Each year, the company and its employees invest millions of dollars
and thousands of hours to improve the quality of life in New
Jersey. The company's culture dictates that service to customers
and community go hand-in-hand (http://www.pseg.com/). Want to know
what's new at PSEG? Go to http://www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up
to have our press releases and weekly environmental commentaries
sent right to your inbox. DATASOURCE: Public Service Enterprise
Group (PSEG) CONTACT: Denise Denk, +1-973-997-3577 Web Site:
http://www.pseg.com/
Copyright
Public Service Enterprise (NYSE:PEG)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024
Public Service Enterprise (NYSE:PEG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2023 to Jun 2024