Winter Warmth Comes To National Grid Foundation Neighbors
Homeless Prevention Council’s REACH Project
StoryTeen Shines A Light On Possibilities
Building Community Through Workforce Readiness
National Grid Foundation Board
Aaron Choo as New Director
He Brings Energy, Enthusiasm and Talent to Organization
National Grid Foundation’s Board of Directors consists of business leaders and professionals representing diverse industry and community organizations. The Board is responsible for the Foundation staying true to its mission, overseeing the Foundations activities and working together as a top-level advisory panel.
In September 2024, National Grid Foundation announced that Aaron Choo has joined its Board of Directors. He replaces Marcy Reed who retired in January 2024.
Aaron is the Vice President of National Grid’s US Gas Network Operations. He is responsible for managing Gas Control Centers, Liquid Natural Gas Assets, and Instrumentation & Regulation throughout the company’s New York and Massachusetts territory. He has financial, operational, and customer-focused performance responsibility along with managing relationships with regulators, government officials, and local communities.
with Aaron Choo
In his 20+ year tenure at National Grid and its legacy companies, Aaron has most recently served as Vice President of Gas Field Operations & Programs in Downstate NY. Aaron has held leadership positions in Community and Customer Management, Customer Operations and Electric Generation that has enabled him to become a dynamic energy professional.
He leads the company’s inclusion and diversity vision and is an Executive Sponsor for the Pride Employee Resource Group, a global colleague support group. He is a former board member of the Association of Black Professionals ERG.
Currently, he serves as the Vice Chair of the United Way of Long Island Board of Directors. He is a member of the Hofstra University Department of Engineering Industry Advisory Board. Aaron is a member of the American Gas Association Leadership Council and the American Association of Blacks in Energy His full bio is on the Foundation website. ❦
NGF: How did you first become interested with National Grid Foundation?
AC: I have always admired legacy support to building stronger communities in which we serve and live.
NGF: What is your vision for the future of giving?
AC: My vision for the future of giving is ensuring that successful grants have the maximum impact to the respective program and community.
NGF: Board members bring their business and life experience and a host of other attributes to a board. What are your strengths?
AC: My strengths include Operational Excellence, Project Management, Leadership, Process Improvement & Mentorship.
NGF: What motivates you?
AC: A key motivator is my family and service to others in need.
“Five
million books!
The Book Fairies Donates 5 Millionth Book!
By Christine Berardi
“Five million books! Five million books!” Shouted the students attending a free book event sponsored by The Book Fairies on November 14th at Northwest Elementary School in Amityville, NY. The excited second graders started shouting and clapping when classmate, Riley Smith, discovered the Golden Ticket in the pages of “Makeda Makes a Birthday Treat!” By Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich. Northwest teachers and Book Fairies staff celebrated with party poppers and gold confetti that covered the gymnasium floor.
More than 500 kindergartners through second grade students chose their own book from hundreds of selections displayed on tables around the school gym. The Book Fairies, a Freeport, NY based organization, strives to combat illiteracy and to get books into the hands of youngsters. It’s why The Book Fairies do what they do. National Grid Foundation is on the same page! ❦
Photos: Christine Berardi.
By Deborah Drew
Providing warm winter support for its friends and neighbors is not new to the National Grid Foundation. For more than 20 years, it has provided a tradition: Funding for select emergency fuel-neutral heating programs in Massachusetts and New York. Through partner organizations and their local agency affiliates, such groups as Catholic Charities Albany, United Way Long Island and United Way Mass Bay, the Foundation will have delivered nearly $11 million in fuel support at the close of 2024.
The combined community support well exceeds previous levels bringing the total gift for the 2025 heating season to $3,450,000 million.
The Warmth Starts With A Foundation Milestone Hug
New last year, along with the announcement of the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, was a generous gift of $5 million from National Grid “corporate” to the Foundation, earmarked for emergency fuel assistance for customers in the company’s service area. “This substantial gift and its timing not only helped us celebrate the Foundation’s 25 years of service in our communities and highlights our core principle: Giving people the tools they need to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and building stronger communities,” said Eileen Cohen, Chair, National Grid Foundation Board of Directors, “But we also know that small amounts of emergency assistance in a time of financial crisis can prevent families from losing their homes, going without heat, experiencing food insecurity or going without other essential needs.” National Grid asked that the monies be used over a two-to-three-year period in support of utility bill and heating assistance. For the heating season 2024, the National Grid Foundation used $550,000 of the special gift to combine with $1.5 million in its traditional annual heating fund giving for a record-setting gift to its neighbors.
Kicking Off 2025 With An Even More Sizable Blanket of Warmth
This December, the National Grid Foundation Board of Directors approved giving another portion of the Special Emergency Heating Fund gift: $2.5 million for a total of six partner organizations, plus its traditional heating fund support at the $950,000 level. The combined community support well exceeds previous levels bringing the total gift for the 2025 heating season to $3,450,000 million.
Newly appointed Foundation Executive Director Robert Simmons said, “This year’s emergency heating fund assistance allows the Foundation to expand its support to additional communities and broaden and deepen our local help. Support for more than 7500 families is anticipated in 2025. We have a long history of serving as a community partner, understand the critical need in our communities, and want our neighbors to know we are here for them.” ❦
Homeless Prevention Council’s REACH Project
Homeless Prevention Council’s REACH Project is a goal-setting program designed to empower people to work towards a specific objective that will help them achieve greater stability. REACH stands for Resilience, Empowerment, Achievement, Community and Hope. Since the program began in 2019, there have been 75 REACH graduates. The program is based on three components – a two-month intensive mindfulness group, one-on-one work with a transitional life coach, and working with a case manager at Homeless Prevention Council (HPC). The premise is that by supporting people in these ways, we can help them clear a path to REACH their individual goal. Most participants focus on educational or vocational goals, such as obtaining a certification, finishing a degree, or starting a small business. Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive a $2000 stipend that can be applied to their goal. While this is the carrot that entices many people to enroll in the program, the vast majority discover along the way that the other tools provided by the program are equally valuable to them. With support from the National Grid Foundation, HPC has been able to serve 29 participants in the REACH Project for the past two years.
Article and Photos: Homeless Prevention Council
Let us tell you about Meverlee, who was living in a small, rented trailer in a campground with her school-aged son, wondering where she would live once the cooler weather arrived. Meverlee had steady employment as a home healthcare worker, but finding housing she could afford was impossible. Meverlee was first referred to HPC by Provincetown Schools when her winter rental ended. HPC staff helped her apply for emergency housing everywhere she was eligible. Nothing was available. But Meverlee felt hopeful about Cape Cod – her son was thriving and there was plenty of work. Her case manager at HPC suggested she apply for the REACH program to help with her professional goals. She agreed, with aspirations to get a driver’s license and buy a car. Both would widen her ability to take care of her home healthcare clients, our fragile neighbors.
When she graduated from REACH, Meverlee used the program stipend to pay for driving lessons and the test to obtain her driver's license. A car would come next, but a housing problem still loomed. Meverlee’s case manager at HPC continued to provide housing search support. Then, this past October, Meverlee and her son were offered a yearround, affordable two-bedroom apartment on the Outer Cape. They moved in on November 1, just as the campground closed for the season.
Thanks to support from the National Grid Foundation for HPC’s REACH Program, people like Meverlee and her son are able to thrive and build a life here on Cape Cod.
JJ’s Story
A lifelong resident of the Lower Cape, JJ began a career in landscaping with an established company. After years of working for someone else, he decided to branch out and start his own operation— and he turned to HPC’s REACH Project for help in charting a business path. JJ enrolled in the three-month self-sufficiency initiative and his serious and steadfast commitment was evident from the start.
Since graduating from the program in June 2022, JJ launched Scape Cod and has welcomed a steady flow of landscaping jobs, including hauling brush and delivering gravel. He relies on his REACH mindfulness skills to manage the stress that comes with running a small business. “In the morning at 7 a.m., driving to a job site, I think about what I need to accomplish in my workday, how many jobs, and at what locations—plus weather factors that come into play,” JJ said.
When JJ came to HPC to meet with Deborah Drew, National Grid Foundation's, Director of Philanthropic Development, he shared how he and his sister had recently been able to purchase a home on the Lower Cape – no small feat for people in their twenties in this housing market- where the median sales price for a single-family home has almost doubled from May 2020 ($468,000) to May 2023 ($930,000). JJ laughed as he told us how his parents are surprised at how financially stable he's become by running his own business, as compared to his siblings who went on to get college degrees. The Cape needs locals like JJ who are staying here and investing in the creation of businesses and jobs, when so many in his age group are being priced out of living here; The REACH program helps make the dreams and goals of people like JJ come true.❦
Meet Daiana Azimova StoryTeen Shines A Light On Possibilities
By: Brooklyn Public Library staff
Daiana Azimova, originally from Kazakhstan, has carved a meaningful path since her immigration to New York City. Finding solace in public libraries, she discovered her passion for early childhood education through the StoryTeen internship program at Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), a program generously supported by the National Grid Foundation.
Now a first-year student at Bryn Mawr College, Daiana explores neuroscience, linguistics, and computer science while actively engaging with children through literacy initiatives. The StoryTeen program, launched in 2021, allows high school students to assist in children’s literacy programs, providing hands-on experience in early childhood education. Interns lead storytime sessions, using songs, rhymes, and interactive storytelling to engage young audiences. This past year, 23 StoryTeens and two Peer Leaders contributed to programs at 18 library locations, utilizing their diverse language skills to connect with children from various backgrounds. In the summer, BPL invites 8-10 StoryTeen interns back to support Summer at the Library programming.
“Summer is a season of possibility. Without the constraints of school and schedules, young people are free to use their imaginations, try something new or read whatever they like. We extend our sincerest thanks to the National Grid Foundation for their ongoing and generous support of the Library’s summer reading and internship
programs throughout the borough,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO, Brooklyn Public Library.
Reflecting on her experience, Daiana shared, “I enjoyed working with kids and seeing their excitement during storytime. Their active participation helped them develop different learning methods.” Her focus on individualized engagement highlights the importance of adapting to various learning styles. The internship also equips teens with valuable skills through workshops on early literacy, STEM for young learners, and library advocacy.
Looking forward to the Summer StoryTeen program, Daiana aims to develop innovative engagement strategies for children. Her experiences with younger siblings fostered her interest in childhood development. At the New Utrecht Library, Daiana has enhanced her professional skills and built connections within her community. As she continues her academic journey, her StoryTeen experiences will shape her future in education and neuroscience, empowering her to inspire the next generation of learners.
For 20 years, National Grid Foundation has supported Brooklyn Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. The program has expanded throughout the years especially with the new StoryTeen initiative which develops the learning, growing and participation of Brooklyn’s young people.❦
"Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up windows to the world and inspire us to explore and achieve and contribute to improving our quality of life."
— Sidney Sheldon, 1917-2007 – Writer and producer
Photos: Gregg Richards/Brooklyn Public Library.
LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF WORCESTER:
Building Community Through Workforce Readiness Programs for New Americans in Greater Worcester
By Deborah Drew
Supporting Literacy Volunteers of Worcester for more than eight years, the National Grid Foundation supports this mighty organization’s mission: Provide adults with the English language skills they need to thrive in the local community and offer adult basic education literacy instruction to native English speakers with low literacy skills. Since 2010, adult refugees and immigrants from over 120 countries have constituted the majority of its learners.
This year, in response to the dramatic influx of new Americans including refugees and migrants, Literacy Volunteers has redesigned its one-to-one volunteer-based tutoring educational programming to reflect students' immediate needs for both improved English language proficiency and workforce readiness training, better preparing students for employment and to further learning opportunities in their new country.
Under the reshaped program, the number of classes held for Survival-level English language learners will double; it will offer 30 English as a Second Language and Workforce Readiness Programs over three trimesters, 10 weeks each, to serve more than 500 adult students, increasing the number of Survival-level classes from two to four classes. It also will work with community partners to lead targeted workshops around workforce readiness and continuing education.❦
Volunteer Tutoring
In FY24, Volunteer tutors met with students for total of over 2,800 hours.
Country of Origin
Students are from 50 countries.
61 Students
85% of students demonstrated improvement based on standardized testing results
14 students report they are enrolled in classes
2 students earned their GED and 3 more are working towards it.
3 students are enrolled in workforce training programs
5 students earned their driver’s license and 4 more are working towards it.
13 students have obtained a new or better job
students have become US citizens!
“If you get, give. If you learn, teach.” – Maya Angelou
