National Grid Foundation Fuels Heating Funds Again This Year
Achieving Success
ThoughtfulThursday
Rebuilding Together NYC is making a difference in the lives of many New Yorkers who want to build a better life.
Through its workforce development program Careers in Construction, Rebuilding Together NYC empowers low-income NYC residents with the development of lifesustaining careers. It aims to change lives by reskilling underemployed individuals in the construction trades.
Careers in Construction is a comprehensive six-week pre-apprenticeship program providing training and certifications. Students learn about the building trades, safety standards, union opportunities and more. It offers a pathway to better paying, sustainable jobs for low-income residents of color. This creates significant and meaningful opportunities for individuals and families to exit the cycle of poverty, join the middle class, and help contribute to a more equitable and inclusive workforce.
In 2022, 99 students were enrolled in the Careers in Construction program with 85 graduating and 81 placed into jobs.
Ricky went to Rebuilding Together NYC with the goal of transitioning into a new career with opportunities for growth. He was previously in the culinary field and shifted into health and office work during COVID. However, for Ricky those paths didn’t provide the skills needed for real growth.
What was most impactful about Careers in Construction for Ricky? He said working among his peers and building a brotherhood. The culinary industry was not as social and a very high-stress environment. Careers in Construction opened him to new skills and interpersonal relationships.
“The opportunity with the union saved my life. Once I stopped negotiating with myself, I can see things clearer. I have a pathway to success.”
He especially enjoyed the hands-on project. Students used the skills they learned and constructed a small house made of cardboard and other materials. They calculated the amount and cost of materials needed and presented their houses to classmates. Ricky came in 2nd place – his house even had a pool! The process really helped him incorporate the skills he learned and opened him to the creative process.
David graduated in October 2022 and is now working as a Drywall Taper and Plasterer with Allied Trades with District Council 9. He was deciding on a job or a career when his brother-in-law who completed the program referred him to Rebuilding Together NYC. David chose a career and enrolled in the program.
JOB PLACEMENT RATE
76%
One Year RETENTION RATE
85% 85%
He completed the program while working the overnight shift, traveling from the Bronx to Brooklyn for classes every morning. After graduation, David secured an apprentice position with District Council 9. He is currently attending school with the union and working in the field.
“The opportunity with the union saved my life. Once I stopped negotiating with myself, I can see things clearer. I have a pathway to success,” said David. ❧
$7.5 million
REINVESTED IN NYC COMMUNITIES THROUGH CONTRUCTION UNION PLACEMENTS SINCE 2019
David
We’ve all seen the headlines: Unprecedented Energy Costs Crippling Local Families; Gas Prices Top Off at $5.00 a Gallon; Tips for Saving at the Grocery Store; Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates, Again.
National Grid Foundation’s Board of Directors saw the need, and again this winter, awarded nearly $1 million in total grants to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, United Way of Long Island, and United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley to support local families with emergency fuel-neutral financial assistance. The funds support households in the greatest need in communities served by National Grid.
The Foundation awarded the region’s largest United Way a $300,000 grant earmarked for its Family Fund, continuing a nearly 20-year partnership that connects local households with emergency assistance during the cold winter months. United Way is distributing the funds to 16 community-based organizations, which administers emergency assistance and flexible funds to households across the region since 1976. The funds are to assist individuals or families in the communities of Attleboro, Cambridge, Chelsea, Dorchester, East Boston, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Mattapan, Roxbury, Quincy, and South Boston with an unanticipated emergency (e.g., job loss,
health crisis) or to help individuals enrolled with a partner agency, take steps toward financial stability. Due to the global energy crisis and its impact on wholesale energy prices, the Mass. Department of Energy Resources anticipates heating bills for local families this winter will be up to 63% higher than last year for all fuel sources.
In the largest contribution United Way’s Project Warmth has received since it began in 1964, the National Grid Foundation assured local community support with a $350,000 grant to keep more than 500 Long Island households warm this winter. Recent ALICE Reports saw more Long Island families having difficulties making ends meet, even when working two, or three jobs. With home heating costs rapidly increasing, United Way’s Project Warmth is a well-established lifeline to neighbors who are experiencing economic challenges. Since its inception, Project Warmth has helped to fill the need for emergency heating assistance on Long Island, raising more than $11 million to help more than 30,000 families. It is one of the country’s oldest non-government fuel funds, serving as a model across the United States, and is a primary source of emergency assistance (oil, gas, fuel related electric) for households who are struggling financially and have exhausted other options.
National Grid Foundation once again partnered with Catholic Charities to support people struggling to pay their home energy bills. The Foundation committed an unprecedented $300,000 toward helping area residents, increasing last year’s fuel-neutral grant by $50,000 to aid families in need as cost of living and inflation rates soar. Now in its fifteenth year, this annual grant helps families across the region to pay their energy bills through Catholic Charities’ Emergency Energy Assistance Fund (EEAF).
The fund supports residents across 14 upstate New York counties, many of whom have been affected by the inflated costs of groceries, gas, and home energy. In response to increasing community needs, the Foundation has consistently upped the value of this grant – from $20,000 in 2009 to today’s $300,000. Catholic Charities estimates the funding has helped 17,000 people to date and anticipates serving another 1000 people across 450 homes through the EEAF in 2023.
Ed White, Executive Director of the National Grid Foundation and Vice President, Social Impact for National Grid, said, “This year, more than ever, as energy prices and inflation are putting such a strain on our customers and communities, we are pleased to again be able to help our neighbors by continuing our annual support of emergency assistance programs. We are especially thrilled to offer even more relief for fuel-neutral energy costs during this unprecedented situation.” White continued, “We have a long history of serving as a community partner, understand the critical need in our communities, and want our customers to know we are here to help. We are grateful to all of these organizations, as they help deliver so many much-needed services during this trying economic time.” ❧
“It has been a challenging period of economic uncertainty for households in our area, with rising consumer prices for food and other basic necessities, shifting labor markets, decreasing housing vacancies, and increased housing costs,” said Bob Giannino, President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. “As United Way works to advance economic prosperity across the region, we are deeply appreciative of this continued and expanded support the National Grid Foundation, which will help ease the financial burden of home heating costs for hundreds of local families this winter.”
Theresa Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island, said,
“The National Grid Foundation’s grant means that hundreds of households with children and seniors who are especially vulnerable to the cold will not have to lower their thermostats or put on layers of sweaters to stay warm in their own home - - they will not have to make the heartbreaking decision whether to put food in their refrigerator or pay for a heating bill. United Way is grateful for the unwavering support of National Grid Foundation in our effort to keep our neighbors safe and warm.”
Sister Betsy Van Deusen, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, said, “Each year the money awarded in this grant does an enormous amount of good across the 14 counties of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, especially here in the Capital District. There is always a need for emergency assistance and winter is a particularly difficult time for those trying to make ends meet. Cold snaps and unpredictable weather are stretching already thin budgets even further, leaving some of our neighbors to choose between heat and basic necessities. Thanks to the National Grid Foundation we will again be able to help folks who are going through a difficult time. We’re grateful for your support, their support, and everything you all do to help our neighbors in need.”
When one thinks about local YMCAs, usually sports, swimming, childcare, summer camps, volunteerism and more come to mind.
At the Boston YMCA, there really is more at work though its YMCA Achievers college and career readiness program that supports first generation college-bound and lowincome youth and helps them establish and pursue post-secondary education and career goals. Through academic enrichment, career exploration and mentoring, youth raise their academic standards, explore diverse college and career options, and learn from adult role models.
The National Grid Foundation has been supporting the Y’s signature teen programs -- Achievers and Teen Employment -- for nearly three years. Under the Achiever program, students meet every other Saturday for three hours during the school year at Northeastern University in Boston. With the support of volunteer instructors from Boston’s leading companies, youth attend ACT/SAT prep classes, tutoring sessions, and also learn life skills such as leadership, communication, collaboration, and organization. They also attend workshops that explore career fields, choosing the right school, and navigating complex admission and financial assistance processes.
Someone who achieves success especially through effort; a successful person.
While many organizations focus on college attainment, few also are targeting youth not already on a path toward college. The Y works with high school guidance counselors to recruit youth with a GPA between 1.5 and 2.5 and who may not have post-secondary goals. During the 2022-2023 school year, 200 students are anticipated to participate in the program, including 25 seniors. The older youth will attend an out of state college tour during spring break.
The Y’s Teen Employment program provides full-time summer employment to parttime work during the school year with the Y providing “real world” work experience and structured professional development activities teens. During the summer of 2022, the YMCA hired 764 teens to work from July 6 until September 2, making the Y the largest employer of youth in the city. From full-time summer employment to part-time work during the school year, the Y provided “real world” work experience and structured professional development activities for the employed teens. During the summer, teens worked 25 hours a week for $13.50 an hour helping to staff the Y branches, camp and after school programs, as well as the Y’s food distribution efforts. Each youth had weekly supervisory sessions to ensure progress towards their employment goals and participated in weekly professional development workshops and activities. Topics included Work Ethic and Professionalism, Attendance and Punctuality, Accepting Direction and Constructive Criticism, Motivation and Taking Initiative, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Financial Literacy, and planning, among others. One hundred of the teens are continuing to work part-time during the 2022-2023 school year. Both programs prepare youth to set and achieve aspirational goals while understanding the difference they can make in the world around them. In the process, they learn important academic and life skills, they begin to envision college and career goals for themselves, and to understand the steps necessary to achieve these goals.
The Y’s core belief, informed by decades of research, supports that a college degree or other credentialed program is one of the best ways to move youth out of poverty. These programs encourage youth to see higher education and career success as realistic possibilities for their future. ❧
A collection of words you use to help make your social media message unique as well provide you the ability to track who is viewing it?
At the National Grid Foundation, we have two: #ThoughfulThursday and #NGFLovesGiving.
More than two years ago, the Foundation launched the Thursday hashtag as part of a campaign to elevate the Foundation’s visibility and promote its work and partnerships with hundreds of local non-profit organizations in New York and New England. The term “Thoughtful Thursday” was used to send the message that the Foundation constantly is thinking about the good and impactful work carried out by the organizations it supports.
Hashtags, of course, are labels used on social media sites that makes it easier to find posts or information with a theme or contains specific content. It helps to draw attention to your messages or posts and encourages interaction. It is created by including the symbol “#” in front of a word or words without spaces.
Since its inception, the Foundation’s campaign has been a success. It has seen an increase in social media interactions, “likes,” as well as interactions with organizations it supports, with many amplifying Foundation messages, reusing the hashtags and engaging in messaging and social media conversation around the Foundation’s work.
Next time you’re on Twitter or FaceBook, search #NGFLovesGiving, especially on a #ThoughtfulThursday.
– Walt Disney.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”
