National Grid Foundation Fuels Heating Funds Again This Year Support

is Critical This Year, More Than Ever

By Deborah Drew

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.

How is anyone to manage?

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.

United Way of Merrimack Valley/Mass Bay, Massachusetts

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.

United Way of Long Island’s Project Warmth

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.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Albany

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.” ❧

United Way of Merrimack Valley/Mass Bay, Massachusetts

“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.”

United Way of Long Island’s Project Warmth

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.”

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany

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.”