FirstEnergy Foundation Surprises 56 Non-Profit Agencies in Pennsylvania with $1,000 Gifts of the Season Donations

AKRON, Ohio, Dec. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The FirstEnergy Foundation has presented surprise Gifts of the Season of $1,000 each to 56 non-profit agencies working to make lives better in Pennsylvania communities where FirstEnergy has utilities or power plants.

"We're pleased to provide this surprise support to so many agencies throughout Pennsylvania, particularly during the holidays, when the services they provide to the least fortunate are often most vital," said Dee Lowery, president of the FirstEnergy Foundation.  "The winners were chosen secretly by FirstEnergy employees, who identified organizations in their areas that do extraordinary work to make our communities better.  Our goal was to focus on programs that enhance children's services, or provide additional support for organizations facing a critical need during the holiday season."

Recipients in Pennsylvania Electric Company's (Penelec) service area are:

• Camp Confidence, Clearfield ? Offers summer camping experiences for special needs people aged 3 ? 21 years old.
• Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Clearfield ? Offers a comprehensive array of programs designed to improve the quality of life for area senior citizens.
• Susquehanna County Interfaith, Susquehanna ? Works to assure gifts and meals are available for the most needy children in Susquehanna County during the holidays.
• Mansfield Foundation, Mansfield ? Assists families to provide gifts for their children this holiday season.
• Erie City Mission, Erie ? Offers programs to those struggling with addiction, homelessness and poverty.
• Active Aging, Meadville ? Makes art, music, current events and other programs of interest available to those over age 60.
• Taylor Diversion Programs, Tionesta ? Works to keep at-risk youth in school.
• Community Services of Venango County, Oil City ? Supports the Spirit of Giving Campaign to provide holiday gifts to local children in need.
• Evergreen Boys & Girls Clubs of Indiana County, Indiana ? Provides after-school and summer programs for school-aged children.
• The Children's Aid Home Programs of Somerset County, Inc., Somerset ? Provides services to promote the emotional, behavioral and physical health of children, adolescents and their families.
• Lumina Center, Lewistown ? Offers after-school, evening and summer programs for children.
• Penn-Lincoln Elementary School, Altoona ? Supports a high population of impoverished students with holiday and winter clothing programs.

Recipients in Metropolitan Edison Company's (Met-Ed) service area include:

• Olivets Boys & Girls Club, Reading and Berks counties, Reading ? Works to help all children, especial those at risk, to reach their full potential.
• Habitat for Humanity, Reading ? Offers neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing.
• Children's Home of York, York ? Offers programs and services to several hundred at-risk youth in the community.
• Easton Area Community Center, Easton ? Works to promote the social, physical and emotional well-being of children and adults.
• Third Street Alliance for Women & Children, Easton ? Offers a safe and healthy space for women, children and families.
• Community Progress Council, Head Start, York ? Offers comprehensive preschool services to children ages 3 to 5.
• ProJeCt of Easton, Inc., Easton ? Provides a comprehensive array of services that help residents break the cycle of poverty.
• True North Wellness Services, Amazing Kids Club, Hanover ? Offers therapeutic programs for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• Michael H. Wise II Memorial Fund, Reading ? Offers support for families of first responders who are injured or killed in the line of duty.
• Pocono Family YMCA, Stroudsburg ? Works to build families through healthy living and social responsibility programming.
• New Journey Community Outreach, Reading ? Provides in-need downtown Reading residents with food, meals and clothing.
• Children's Aid Society, The Lehman Center, York ? Provides emergency respite care services for abused children.

Recipients in West Penn Power Company's service area are:

• Westmoreland County Community Action, Westmoreland ? Works to strengthen families and break the cycle of poverty.
• East End United Community Center, Uniontown ? Improves residents' academic, social, economic and cultural, experiences
• Coalition for a Brighter Greene, Waynesburg ? Facilitates continuous progress toward the goal of a drug-free Greene County.
• CASA for Kids, Washington ? Works to provide court-appointed volunteer advocacy services to abused and neglected children.
• Greene County Habitat for Humanity, Greensboro ? Builds and remodels homes for low-income residents.
• Ford City Hose Company No. 1 Ambulance, Ford City ? Supports the holiday toy drive for disadvantaged youth.
• YMCA ? Richard G. Snyder Campus, Kittanning ? Supports Christmas activities for children.
• Ten Thousand Villages of Central Pennsylvania, Mechanicsburg ? Supports social justice and fair trade.
• Jana Marie Foundation, Pine Grove Mills ? Empowers teen girls to make positive choices.
• Project Gifts for Kids Elk County, St. Mary's ? Provides holiday toys for less fortunate children in the community.
• Sinoquipe Boy Scout Camp, Fort Littleton ? Provides Boy Scout camping and other programming for area youth.
• Fulton County Food Basket, Mcconnellsburg ? Provides food to the most needy during the holiday season.

Recipients in Pennsylvania Power Company's (Penn Power) service area include:

• Petroleum Valley Youth Coalition, Chicora ? Offers a summer-long day camp for children in grades 4 through 12.
• EDCO Park Foundation, Evans City ? Provides maintenance and upkeep for a popular park used by many in the community.
• Woodlands Foundation, Wexford ? Enriches the lives of children and adults with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
• Victim Outreach Intervention Center, Butler ? Provides services to those who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes.
• The Lighthouse Foundation, Butler ? Helps the less fortunate to meet immediate needs and promote self-sufficiency in a Christian environment.
• YMCA, Kittanning ? Provides Christmas-related activities for children in the community.
• Pine Valley Camp, Ellwood City ? Offers year-round camping experiences for underprivileged children aged 6 to 15.
• Greenville Area Public Library Association, Greenville ? Offers children's programming for Christmas.
• City Rescue Mission, New Castle ? Provides meals and shelter for the homeless.
• Community Food Warehouse, Sharon ? Provides food and meals for the least fortunate in Mercer County.
• Bair Foundation, New Wilmington ? Provides housing and Christmas gifts for homeless children in western Pennsylvania.
• Hoyt Center Foundation, New Castle ? Offers Christmas programs for children.

Recipients in areas near the Beaver Valley Power Station and the Bruce Mansfield Plant include:

• River Community Fiduciary Service, Inc., Beaver ? Works to improve the quality of life for those who need guardianship or other support.
• Church Army USA, Aliquippa ? Works to bring hope for salvation to the poor and hurting in the community.
• Hosanna Industries, Inc., Rochester ? Works to provide housing, job training and disaster relief services to those in need.
• Aliquippa Impact, Aliquippa ? Serves at-risk youth in the community with Christian programming to develop positive habits, compassion, hope and resilience.
• Christian Assembly, Beaver Falls ? Ministers to church members and the community, providing Christmas dinner to 1,500 poor, homeless or otherwise less fortunate members of the community.
• Trails Ministry, Beaver Falls ? Supports families of inmates with holiday necessities and other services.
• Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 862, Rochester ? Supports the needs of Vietnam Veterans in the largest chapter in Pennsylvania and the third-largest chapter in the nation.
• Never Alone WV, Weirton ? Offers addiction services to addicts and their loved ones and families, including temporary housing.

These gifts are part of the FirstEnergy Foundation's "Gifts of the Season" campaign, which includes a total of 132 $1,000 gifts given to 132 non-profits across the company's six-state service area and in communities where the company does business.

Penelec, Met-Ed, West Penn Power and Penn Power are subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp.  Beaver Valley Power Station is owned by FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.  Bruce Mansfield Plant is owned by FirstEnergy Generation LLC., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. 

The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) 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.  Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com.  Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.