FirstEnergy Foundation Surprises 40 Non-Profit Agencies in Ohio 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 40 non-profit agencies working to make lives better in Ohio communities where FirstEnergy has utilities or power plants.

"We're pleased to provide this surprise support to so many agencies throughout Ohio, 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 Ohio Edison's service area are:

• El Centro, Lorain ? Provides mental health and other social services to Hispanic families.
• Hattie Larlham, Mantua ? Enhances quality of life for people with disabilities and their families.
• Hearts for Music, Mantua ? Provides those with special needs the opportunity to create and perform music.
• Inspiring Minds, Warren ? Engages and inspires youth to expand their potential through education and life-changing experiences.
• Nehemiah Partners of Sandusky, Sandusky ? Empowers and educates children to reach their God-given potential through Christian programming.
• Nord Center, Lorain ? Provides culturally competent and evidence-based behavioral healthcare services.
• North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Mansfield ? Connects residents of north Mansfield with local services and advances economic development.
• On-The-Rise, Springfield ? Serves at-risk youth suffering from family, social educational or behavioral issues.
• Renaissance Performing Arts Association, Mansfield ? Presents and produces live performances and symphonic music to enhance quality of life.
• Rocking Horse Community Health Center, Springfield ? Offers facilities where residents can improve their physical, emotional and mental health.
• The Purple Cat, Youngstown ? Provides day programming alternatives for adults with special needs.
• Turning Point, Marion ? Provides counselling, shelter and other support to victims of domestic abuse.

Recipients in The Illuminating Company's Service area are:

• The Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation, Cleveland ? Offers programming and resources for professional development leadership, coaching and mentoring.
• Catholic Charities of Ashtabula County, Ashtabula ? Provides food and gifts to the poor, homebound and disabled this holiday season.
• Geauga Faith Rescue Mission, Chardon ? Offers services for the homeless of Geauga County.
• Karamu House, Cleveland ? The nation's oldest African-American performing arts theater offers academic programming and economic development opportunities.
• Open Doors Academy, Cleveland ? Offers educational support systems for at-risk middle and high school students to break the cycle of poverty.
• Greater Cleveland Youth for Christ, Cleveland ? Embraces youth of all backgrounds who may be engaging in at-risk behaviors to help them make better life choices.
• Ronald McDonald House, Cleveland ? Allows families to stay together during their children's health care, which promotes better outcomes and better healing.
• Senior Transportation Connection, Cleveland ? Serves those with mobility or other age-related difficulties with transportation across Cuyahoga County.
• DDC Clinic ? Center for Special Needs Children, Middlefield ? Supports those with special needs with medical research and affordable care.
• The Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum, Ashtabula ? Celebrates Ashtabula County's civil rights history through programs and curated exhibits that are accessible for all.
• Providence House, Cleveland ? Builds safer communities by addressing the cycle of abuse and strengthening neighborhoods and families.
• Prevent Blindness, Northeast Ohio Chapter, Cleveland ? Offers early detection of possible vision problems through screening and provides education to the community to prevent blindness.

Recipients in Toledo Edison's service area are:

• Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg ? Provides compassionate end-of-life care for terminally ill patients.
• Cherry Street Mission Ministries, Toledo ? Provides meals, shelter and spiritual programs for the poor and homeless.
• Four County Family Center, Four County ADAMH's Board, Toledo ? Provides counselling, home care, outreach, advocacy and prevention education for families in the four-county area.
• Lott Industries, Toledo ? Serves individuals with developmental disabilities with educational and vocational training services.
• Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank, Toledo ? Obtains and distributes food to the needy in eight northwestern Ohio counties.
• Prevent Blindness Northwest Ohio, Toledo ? Provides vision screenings, eye health and safety programs and other services to help prevent blindness.
• Bittersweet Farms, Whitehouse ? Works to positively impact the lives of those with autism and those whose lives they touch.
• Camp Courageous, Whitehouse ? Provides outdoor educational experiences, education, advocacy and support to enrich the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio, Toledo ? Enriches the lives of children with medical issues by providing comfort, care and support for their families.
• YMCA of Greater Toledo, Toledo ? Builds strong communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility programs.
• Hayes Presidential Library & Museum, Fremont ? Enriches lives through historical preservation of the President Rutherford B. Hayes home and museum.
• SeaGate Foodbank, Toledo ? Provides food and other services free-of-charge to those in need.

Recipients near the W.H. Sammis Plant in Stratton, Ohio, include:

• YWCA Steubenville, Steubenville ? Offers programs for women that promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
• Ohio Valley Health Center, Steubenville ? Provides health care services to all in the region, regardless of their ability to pay.
• A Caring Place Child Advocacy Center, Wintersville ? Serves abused and neglected children and their families with prevention programs and medical care, free of charge.
• ALIVE Shelter, Steubenville ? Offers emergency shelter, a 24-hour hotline and other services to those victimized by domestic violence and their children.

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.

Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison are subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp.  The W.H. Sammis Plant is owned by FirstEnergy Generation, LLC., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy.

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.