Destiny 2023 Q3

Photo: Brooklyn Public Library National Grid volunteers.

Leads National Grid Foundation to New Heights Ed White

After a total of 28 years at National Grid with the last six years at National Grid Foundation, Ed White had decided leave and pursue other professional endeavors effective June 30, 2023.

In a letter to partner organizations, Board Chair Eileen Cohen said, “We are grateful to Ed for his leadership, dedication, and extraordinary accomplishments while leading the Foundation. Ed has been a passionate advocate for the Foundation, the many organizations it supports, and has expanded its reach while deepening the connection to our grant recipients.”

“Teamwork makes the dream work” and “Living the dream” are two expressions Ed had said often.

His belief in those statements resonated with the Foundation team. Ed’s leadership and genuinely positive outlook on life flowed into his work that made his staff, coworkers and others feel at ease and optimistic.

In June 2017, he joined the Foundation as Executive Director. One year later, he took the lead of Social Impact, formerly Corporate Giving, as Vice President. Prior to joining both groups, he worked for the company in several compacities: Vice President/US Program Lead for The Shaping Our Future Strategic Review and Vice President of New Energy Solutions.

At the Foundation, Ed’s responsibilities included managing the annual gifting and operating budgets, developing, and implementing grant-making criteria while supervising the staff to create compelling

grant proposals. Most importantly, he was a coach, mentor, advisor and friend who helped the Foundation team grow.

During his six-year tenure, the Foundation added new partner organizations, updated its website, and created a quarterly newsletter and annual report.

He brought to light that the Foundation’s giving is great as it helps many of our neighbors who are in need. The true sense of giving selflessly is to be there when disaster strikes, or a pandemic occurs but especially to be that constant source of support. Under his lead, the Foundation provided millions of dollars in grants to assist nonprofits during the Covid-19 pandemic, times of food insecurity and when Mother Nature lets everyone know who is in charge when she dumped nearly 100 inches of snow in Buffalo, NY.

Ed shared that the Foundation’s work creates an immeasurable impact on the non-profits and the communities served. He helped National Grid Foundation, and its staff move forward.

The Foundation's Board of Directors, in conjunction with National Grid, has launched a search for a new Executive Director. The Board is confident that as the Foundation begins the next chapter in its 25-year history, the new leader will bring a robust commitment to serving the communities that we support, along with ideas that will make our impact even greater. In the future, National Grid Foundation will announce its next Executive Director. ❧

Summer @ BPL Celebration!

By Christine Berardi

On July 12, more than 300 children and their families enjoyed a fun and educational day as The Brooklyn Public Library kicked off the Summer Reading Program at its Macon branch.

Children enjoyed special performances, arts and crafts, giveaways and so much more. The Library gave away 200 books to young people during the special day. Nine National Grid employees made the day even more special by volunteering during the event. They welcomed and greeted patrons, assisted with various arts and crafts activities, read a book during story time and handed out Summer Reading materials.

The 2023 theme “Summer at BPL: Book Your Brooklyn” highlights adventures around the borough. The program celebrates the stories of the neighborhoods and libraries that make the borough unique. Exciting adventures include block parties, author programs, performances, Grab & Learn bags with program materials, and the beloved summer literacy and STEM programs.

Building on the success of the new StoryTeen internship program, now in its second year, a new cohort of 8-12 teens (grades 10-12) interested in literacy and early childhood education participates in a 60-hour summer internship program. The program focuses on Summer Reading programming and outreach.

“We thank National Grid Foundation for its generous support of Brooklyn Public Library’s Summer Reading Program and StoryTeen Internship Program. With the support of National Grid Foundation, Brooklyn Public Library provides program and literacy activities that encourages reading and progress summer learning loss all summer long,” said Nicole Bryan, Branch Manager of Macon Library in Bed Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. “We also can provide giveaway books to our children and teens to take that love of learning home. Our StoryTeens have hands-on work experience at all branch locations. They will work with our outreach team and provide summer reading programs.”

“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.”

― C.S. Lewis, writer

Catholic Charities –

Albany Heating Fund Program Fuels Homes and Hearts

By Christine Berardi

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany helps to deliver blessings when they are needed most.

The organization addresses basic human needs and delivers numerous services and programs to all residents especially the poor and vulnerable living in the Albany diocese for more than 105 years. The Emergency Energy Assistance Program gives a warm helping hand and a blessing to residents in need. In recent years, requests for emergency energy assistance have significantly increased especially since the beginning of the pandemic. National Grid Foundation has responded increasing its gift to all its heating fund agencies: Catholic Charities of the

Diocese of Albany, United Way of Long Island and United Way of Merrimack Valley & Mass Bay.

Catholic Charities’ Emergency Energy Assistance is a lifeline to low-to-modest income residents experiencing overwhelming financial burden arising from hardship conditions. These households spend a significant and disproportionate percentage of their net income on housing and utilities costs. Three major factors include inflation and increase in utility costs, negligible cost-of-living increases and the end of pandemic-related safety-net programs.

The staff at Catholic Charities sees the results and the impact on residents. Penny McKnight is a Catholic Charities – Albany employee who assists residents with one-time, fuel neutral emergency heating assistance grants.

“As an Emergency Assistance Community Navigator at Catholic Charities, I work in our Sidney office in Delaware County. Delaware County is a huge, rural county, the size of Rhode Island and has very few resources to help people who are in need,” said McKnight. “I am thankful for National Grid Foundation as we have been able to help people who need assistance. I have helped several clients during this past winter keep their electric on and obtain heat.”

She also shares the stories of two recipients that Catholic Charities was able to assist thanks to the National Grid Foundation’s grant.

A single mom with a young autistic child came to Catholic Charities. Their place of residence was not a good place for the son as there was no place for

him to play outside safely. When the mom found a new place to live, she had to pay a security deposit for the propane used for heating, hot water, and cooking. She couldn’t afford to pay this deposit and had to pay the security deposit and first month’s rent for the new apartment. Catholic Charities was able to pay the propane security deposit which allowed them to complete this move, which is a safer place for her son to live.

In January, Timothy, Maryann and three children visited Catholic Charities looking for assistance with fuel oil. Maryann has MS. They had recently taken over ownership of Timothy’s father’s house after he passed away. With the extra funeral costs and an unexpected car repair, they were unable to pay for a fuel oil delivery. With Timothy’s job and Maryann’s Social Security Disability income, they were over the income limit for HEAP assistance. Catholic Charities was able to assist this family with a fuel oil delivery in the middle of the winter. ❧

Recipients are appreciative of Catholic Charities — Albany and the Emergency Energy Assistance Program. Below are two thank you letters.

Hello Andrea,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your team at Catholic Charities again for all your help. You were an amazing source of support both emotionally and financially at a very difficult time in my life. Reaching out to National Grid, SNAP and for rental assistance for me was truly going above and beyond. I hope to be able to pay it all forward one day. You are always in my prayers. Thank you!

Hello:

I am so very thankful and very appreciative for the help of Penny at Catholic Charities and Carolyn for the help they gave me to help me get my electric turned back on, due to it being shut off because of a financial struggle. Without these programs and wonderful people, people like myself who work hard and struggle to pay bills and feed their kids would have a very difficult time. I am thankful to have them find a grant that helps people in time of need. Thank you for all you do for the community.

Photo: Boston Public Library Fund Student at ESL Technology Literacy workshop

Photo: Boston Public Library Fund BPL Literacy Instructor and ESL Student

Boston Public Library

English As A Second Language

10,705 literacy student participating during FY 2022 – 2023 capacity increased more than two fold

24 volunteer instructors

Serving more frequently emerging studens from Afghanistan, Ukrane and Haiti

22 volunteer-led weekly meetings with students across all library branches

11 ESOL classes in an average week

835 classes, tutorings, workshops

december

11, 2023

Celebrating 25 years of Supporting Our Communities

National Grid Foundation has been busy for 25 years supporting the communities it serves through supporting organizations and programs which strengthen, educate, and revitalizes them making them stronger for future generations.

The Foundation knows the importance of bringing opportunities to the underserved within the National Grid footprint. We partner with organizations not only with financial aid, but with a keen eye to connect them with each other.

During hurricanes, pandemics, and food shortages the Foundation was there reestablishing the communities through its core principles of Education, Environmental, Emergency Heating and by supporting workforce development programs.

National Grid Foundation looks forward to another 25 years supporting its communities.

Photo by: Andy Holmes Unsplashed