BRECKSVILLE, Ohio, Dec. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illuminating
Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), presented
surprise $5,000 "Gifts of the Season"
to two local nonprofit agencies that are working to make lives
better in the communities they serve. The gifts were presented on
behalf of the FirstEnergy Foundation as part of its annual holiday
"Gifts of the Season" campaign.
The recipients of this year's gifts are United Services
Organization (USO) of Northern
Ohio and Taking Back Our Youth – two Cuyahoga County organizations that provide
support services to underserved and vulnerable individuals of all
ages across Greater Cleveland.
"We're proud to support these organizations because, despite
every curveball that's been thrown at us this year, they have
continued their selfless service to our local veterans and our
youth," said Lorna Wisham, president
of the FirstEnergy Foundation. "The winners were chosen secretly 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."
USO of Northern Ohio provides
resources for service members, veterans and military families
throughout various transition points of their service, including
assistance to help them prepare for and secure civilian work. The
organization serves military families throughout 29 Ohio counties, and helps nearly 45,000 active
duty, guard and reserve military members.
"Generous donors, like the FirstEnergy Foundation, provide
critical support that improves the daily lives of local service
members and their families," said Sherry Ems, executive director of
USO of Northern Ohio. "We're not a
government agency, so we rely on supporters now more than ever to
fund programs that help make life easier for our local heroes."
Taking Back Our Youth provides at-risk children in Cleveland with mentoring programs and
educational resources to keep their futures bright. The
organization also provides incarcerated youth with services that
help prepare them to be productive citizens when they transition
back into society.
"We are grateful to have received this FirstEnergy Foundation
gift because it will allow us to continue making a positive
difference in the lives of children and young adults across our
region," said Makanya Smith,
executive director of Taking Back Our Youth. "Housing, family and
financial security are the three core items that most inmates need
upon release, and these funds will help us provide young men and
women with everything they need to turn their lives around."
Photos of FirstEnergy's annual "Gifts of the Season" check
presentations are being shared on social media using the hashtag
#GiftsofFE. Since its inception in 2016, the campaign has
awarded nearly $500,000 to
organizations that work to strengthen communities.
The Illuminating Company serves more than 750,000 customers
across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake
and Lorain counties. Follow The
Illuminating Company on Twitter @IlluminatingCo and on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/IlluminatingCo.
The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corp.
and provides support to non-profit, tax-exempt health and human
services agencies; educational organizations; cultural and arts
programs and institutions; and civic groups in areas served by
FirstEnergy's 10 electric operating companies and in areas where
the company conducts business.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational
excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the
nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers
in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, West Virginia,
Maryland and New York. The company's transmission
subsidiaries operate approximately 24,500 miles of transmission
lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow
FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter
@FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.