Avangrid Foundation Provides $100,000 Grant to Expand Food Pantry at SUNY Broome
March 21 2024 - 1:40PM
Business Wire
Part of the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to
increase food security across New York state
PHOTOS/VIDEOS can be downloaded here
The Avangrid Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of
leading sustainable energy company Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR),
joined SUNY Broome today to celebrate the grand reopening of the
college’s Hornet Hope Center, a newly upgraded on-campus food
pantry and clothing closet. This new student resource center was
made possible thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Avangrid
Foundation, continuing the Foundation’s commitment to supporting
food security. Last year, the Avangrid Foundation, New York State
Electric & Gas (NYSEG), and Rochester Gas and Electric
(RG&E) donated in total more than $300,000 to nonprofits
addressing food insecurity across New York state.
“Today’s college students face serious financial challenges—the
cost of education is on the rise, as is rent, food, and textbooks,”
said Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “Food insecurity can be
detrimental to a student’s academic performance and their health.
We’re very proud to support the expansion of the Hornet Hope Center
at SUNY Broome so that students have a safe space on campus to
access support when they need it. A student’s focus should be on
their schoolwork, not worrying about where their next meal will
come from.”
SUNY Broome’s Hornet Hope Center provides students in need with
access to nutritious and heart-healthy food, clothing, and personal
hygiene products for men, women, infants, and children. The
clothing bank includes essential seasonal items, like winter coats,
and professional clothing and footwear for students to wear for
interviews, job fairs, and internships. The Avangrid Foundation
grant allowed the Center to move to a larger, newly renovated space
on campus with energy-efficient lighting.
SUNY Broome is proud to partner with Community Hunger Outreach
Warehouse (CHOW), a network of food pantries in Broome County, to
assist in stocking the food pantry, open to students during regular
daytime hours and by appointment. The pantry is staffed by students
and other campus volunteers.
“Our role as a community college is to support our students not
only in their educational pursuits but in every aspect of their
lives. Students cannot thrive academically if their basic needs,
such as food and clothing, are not met,” said Dr. Tony Hawkins,
president of SUNY Broome Community College. “The Avangrid
Foundation understands the importance of this resource, and their
generosity made the relocation, renovation, and reopening of the
campus food pantry and clothing closet a reality.”
“Studies show that more than one in three community college
students do not have enough to eat,” said Pablo Colón, director
of corporate citizenship at Avangrid and executive director of the
Avangrid Foundation. “This statistic is staggering and
highlights the need for initiatives like the Hornet Hope Center on
campuses. This Center is unique because not only will it address
food insecurity, but it will also address the growing issue of
hygiene poverty by providing essential personal hygiene products
and providing students with access to professional clothing for job
interviews through the clothing bank. The Avangrid Foundation is
very proud to support initiatives like this that address the
underlying barriers students face and set them up for success
beyond college.”
“It's important that our students have the basic resources they
need,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “Thanks to
the Avangrid Foundation’s support, SUNY Broome’s Hornet Hope Center
can do even more for those in need. This partnership shows how
businesses can make a positive impact in our community and make a
real difference in the lives of our students.”
“I am so pleased to see the Avangrid Foundation grant the SUNY
Broome’s Hornet Hope Center $100,000,” said Assemblyman Joe
Angelino. “Making sure all students at our SUNY schools have
basic necessities such as food and clothing is of the utmost
importance. I’m glad to see this private-public partnership working
to address this issue.”
“Expanding services and support for students at our public
educational organizations is important, and I am thrilled to
recognize the Avangrid Foundation for stepping up to fund the
expansion of SUNY Broome’s Hornet Hope Center, which provides
students in need with access to nutritious food and other
essentials,” said Michael Marinaccio, town of Dickinson
supervisor. “Supporting students is vital to the future of
Broome County.”
About Avangrid Foundation: The Avangrid Foundation is an
independent, nonprofit organization that funds philanthropic
investments that primarily impact communities where Avangrid, Inc.
and its subsidiaries operate. Since 2001, the Avangrid Foundation
and its predecessors have invested more than $38.9 million in
partnerships that focus on building sustainable, vital and healthy
communities; preserving cultural and artistic heritage; advancing
education; and improving people’s lives. The Avangrid Foundation is
committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development
Goals in the United States. For more information, please visit
www.avangridfoundation.org.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be
the leading sustainable energy company in the United States.
Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $44 billion in
assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary
lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks
business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas
utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and
New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and
operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities
across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000
people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022, 2023
and 2024 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s
best corporate citizens. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among
utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s
Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most
Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the
Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of
companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit
www.avangrid.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240321475004/en/
Media: Sarah Warren sarah.warren@avangrid.com
585-794-9253
Avangrid (NYSE:AGR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Avangrid (NYSE:AGR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024