Supporting Human Welfare

We’re working to help people from California to New York by supporting
groups and initiatives that provide help for people with disabilities,
humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and public safety improvements.
Learn about our assistance to groups like SNACK and Friends, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Griffin Health Services, the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and Elves and more.

Enriching the Lives of Some Very Special Children
NRG is helping a nationally recognized program called SNACK and Friends (Special Needs Activity Center for Kids) address practical, social, recreational and communication needs of children with developmental disabilities like autism, Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger Syndrome. Jackie Ceonzo, the mother of an autistic son, founded SNACK in 2003. The program is being replicated in other states throughout the country.

Over the past four years, SNACK’s reach has grown from serving six to over 300 children, ages 3 to 13, in the New York City metropolitan area, home to our Astoria and Arthur Kill plants. NRG has committed to providing funds to expand the “SNACKtivities” after-school program and increase the number of skilled teachers helping these children.

Working Toward a Cure
In 2008, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society presented NRG with its prestigious “Service to Mankind Award” for our fundraising efforts to help find a cure for blood cancers, leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. We started with a benefit fundraiser at our annual headquarters picnic to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Southern New Jersey/Shore Regions.

At the same time, our employees in Princeton and at our Western NY plants—Huntley and Dunkirk—joined thousands of others in the Society’s “Light the Night” fundraising walks. Employees carried red and white balloons to honor those fighting the diseases and to remember those we lost. Our employees’ efforts raised additional funds for the Society’s mission.

Improving Lives of Underserved Populations
In Connecticut, we’re helping improve the health of underserved populations in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, where many of our Connecticut employees reside. NRG delivered a one-time grant to Griffin Health Services to develop care for underserved residents in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.

The funds will help create programs focused on child welfare, along with an expansion of Griffin’s current mobile outreach program and developing a preventative medical program for children or other residents in need. Griffin Health operates a 160-bed acute care community hospital in the heart of the valley and has received national recognition and acclaim for its patient care.

Hope Springs Eternal
We’re working closely with The American Cancer Society (ACS) to help Louisiana cancer patients and their families. The ACS recently opened a “Hope Lodge” in New Orleans (the first construction project completed after Hurricane Katrina) where out-of-town cancer patients stay during treatments. The home-like facility provides free lodging, free transportation to and from cancer treatments and a supportive, caring place to recover. Our contribution offsets operating costs for Hope Lodge, which relies on donations and volunteers.

NRG in Motion
Team Velo NRG is an all-region traveling cycling team whose annual flagship events include the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s BP MS 150 race from Houston to Austin and the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s LIVESTRONG Challenge in Philadelphia. NRG covers travel costs for our riders so they can get down to business at hand: raising awareness and money for two nationally recognized charitable organizations. Team members train throughout the year, while dozens of NRG volunteers assist along their routes.

Members of the NRG Texas Cycling Team also meet each night in December to assemble bicycles for underserved children. The effort helps Elves and More, an organization that views bicycles as the vehicle to lead children to a better way of life by freeing them to attend sports activities and school and mentor programs. Our efforts helped Elves and More deliver 20,000 new bicycles last year to children in Houston.