We partnered with Boston Cares once again for our final garden Boston build for the year. Working with local volunteers and City Sprouts sustainable gardens were built at Donald McKay School in East Boston on September 11th. Volunteers build and installed an accessibility ramp, build and plant raised garden beds, crated a stone dust pathway throughout the garden and general landscaping. The garden officially opened a few days later with a ceremony featuring students, school staff and local civic representatives.
Congratulations to Toronto Youth Development on receiving the $50,000 Toronto FC Soccer Community Action Grant presented by the Just Energy Foundation. The Foundation’s Executive Director, Kandi Terry, was joined by MLSE Foundation representatives and Toronto Youth Development for the announcement at BMO Field. The $50,000 grant will directly support Toronto Youth Development's Regent Park Soccer League (RPSL) which provides at-risk, disenfranchised children and youth (ages four to 13) in the Regent Park community of Toronto with an opportunity to engage in community sport, recreation and physical activity.
The Foundation partnered up with Boston Cares once again to work with local volunteers and City Sprouts to build sustainable gardens. Braving the rainy weather, a group of volunteers added some TLC to the outdoor space at The Henderson Upper School in Boston, MA on July 24th. This included general landscaping of garden and seating area, redefining the pathway, as well as building and installing composters and a tool shed. Check out our Facebook page for the complete album to see volunteers in action as they worked together to makeover this space. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place in September to officially open the sustainable gardens with students, school staff and local civic representatives. We look forward to seeing the students and teachers use the gardens and the impact that will it make in the upcoming school year.
Through a partnership with Boston Cares, the Foundation is delighted to work with local volunteers to build a Sustainable Garden at West Zone Learning Center in St. Jamaica Plain, MA on July 13th. Gretchen Fuhr, Manager of Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations, as well as local volunteers were on hand to help remake this outdoor space into a sustainable schoolyard. This included filling and mulching the planters, as well as cleaning up the existing garden and playground. Opening ceremonies for the garden took place in September 2017 to officially open the gardens along with teachers, staff and students. The garden and outdoor classroom targets youth education and complements our commitment to investing in the environment while adding value to the communities. Check out pictures from the build on our Facebook page.
We once again partnered with Volunteer Houston to build a sustainable garden. This time the lucky school was Lantrip Elementary School in Houston, Texas on July 20th. A team of about 30 JE employees from our Houston office as well as other volunteers spent the day digging, building planter boxes, benches and a stage and chalkboard for an outdoor classroom that current as well as future students and staff will use to learn about environmental sustainability.
Check out our Facebook page for more pictures. A special thanks to the group of JE employees who volunteered their time to bring the garden plans to life. We are looking forward to seeing staff and students use this space in the new school year.
The Foundation was happy to support The Wrightway Builds a Future Foundation, an organization that assists in providing essential tools to those in need within the community of Dallas, Texas. Founded by Boston Celtics forward Jordan Mickey, they accomplish their mission through support, education and fitness based programs. This organization sponsors Elisha M Peace Elementary School and a summer basketball camp for boys and girls as well as provides meals for the elderly. Our donation will help benefit over 250 students, while enabling Wrightway to continue to make a positive impact on children's future.
Several staff from our Houston office celebrated plenty of 20 by proudly presenting the Houston Food Bank with a $20,000 donation! The Houston team rallied together for a campaign to benefit the Food Bank and raised an outstanding $14,375 for the local charity. As a way to help celebrate our 20th Anniversary, the JE Foundation contributed additional funds for an even $20,000 grand total! Every dollar donated provides the equivalent of three meals for an individual in need. The donation will help provide 60,000 meals for hungry neighbors, and amounts to 200,000 lbs. of fresh produce.
We were proud to present the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) Fuel for School Breakfast Programs with a $10,000 donation. Fuel for School is a breakfast program designed to provide hungry Calgary elementary students with a nutritious breakfast prior to starting their studies each day. The aim of the program is to reduce the emotional stress, health risks and negative academic effects of hunger and poor nutrition for elementary-aged students. Our donation will allow their program to continue to thrive with the hopes of expanding to more schools and feeding older students. Each year, the program serves over 110,000 breakfasts with each school providing between 20 and 60 breakfasts everyday.
We love supporting Boston Cares! We were proud to sponsor their Kentucky Derby Party where Gretchen Fuhr, Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations attended. All proceeds will support the organization's goal to improve communities in the Greater Boston area. They are able to achieve this with their mission to connect more than 23,000 enthusiastic and experienced volunteers with more than 165 local non-profit agencies and schools.
"Every child deserves to start the day with the nourishment they need to learn and thrive". That is why we are thrilled to have partnered with Breakfast Club of Canada to help alleviate hunger for Ontario school children. The donation enables the Club to provide a breakfast to a child in need, for as little as $1 per day. The investment further translates to 10,000 morning meals for Ontario kids at risk of going without the most important meal of the day. Read more on our partnership: http://goo.gl/qBM9Cb
Congrats to Northern Nishnawbe Education Council for being this year’s recipient of the Toronto Raptors Community Action Grant presented by the Just Energy Foundation! The Just Energy Foundation is delighted to be supporting Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to help them deliver recreational programs and otherwise inaccessible opportunities for First Nations youth to develop a sense of identity, purpose and community belonging. For these students who come from such remote areas, the social and leadership skills, values and self-esteem they gain from peer interaction through organized sports such as the Thunderhawks Indigenous Basketball Program, can be life-changing.
We love supporting North York Harvest Food Bank, the primary food bank for northern Toronto who believes in dignified food access, empowering individuals and strengthening communities.
Jason Herod was proud to present a donation on behalf of the Just Energy Foundation. With our support, we will help feed the 15,000 people who access their food banks every month. North York Harvest Food Bank distributed over 2.3 million pounds of food last year through 77 community programs.
You can also check out our video slideshow on our FaceBook page.
Congrats to Hockey 4 Youth (Let Kids Play Foundation) for being the recipient of the Toronto Maple Leafs Community Action Grant presented by the Just Energy Foundation! Their mission is to remove barriers and provide new Canadian youth with an opportunity to play hockey at no cost while learning valuable life skills through our T.E.A.C.H. program (technology, entrepreneurship, application, community-giving, healthy active living). Follow them on Twitter & Instagram @hockey4youth and on the web at hockey4youth.org
We were was pleased to sponsor the National Institute for People with Disabilities of New Jersey (NIPD/NJ). NIPD/NJ provides a range of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them achieve the fullest life possible. Our donation, which was presented by Miriam Stiefel and Christabel Escobar, supported the annual family support conference. It was an opportunity for educational and support for families whose intellectual or developmental disabilities (ID/DD) individual lives at home.
Eric Blakey, on behalf of the Just Energy Foundation, was proud to present a donation to Aspermont Small Business Development Center, Inc. (ASBDC), a nonprofit community action organization which provides utility assistance for low income households in Aspermont, Texas. ASBDC has a partnership agreement with Just Energy to make monthly pledges on client utility bills. Our donation will provide them with the funding needed to do more outreach in their service area so that they can serve more households in 2017.
Happy to support Camp Endeavor, an organization serving low-income Philadelphia students to gain exposure to STEM and literacy programs. Through after school programming and summer camps, they are able to nurture and enhance the educational experience of urban youth in grades kindergarten through fifth. Children are provided with a positive, supportive environment in which they can learn, play, be creative and develop critical thinking skills. Our donation will be used to purchase needed materials for program supplies.
We love supporting Gleaners Community Food Bank! Our donation will support their School Fund Mobile program and provide 7,500 meals for neighbors in need in southeastern Michigan. Pictured below is Tabatha Lowe presenting a check on behalf of the foundation.
The foundation was pleased to once again to support The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), in Detroit, MI who is one of the leading providers of utility assistance, partnering with 56 agencies in more than 70 countries. The foundation sponsored their Week of Warmth campaign which is an annual event that raises awareness and funds to help keep Michigan families healthy, safe and warm during the cold Michigan winters.
Watch here to see a video of Reanna, someone we will able to help with our support.
The Just Energy Foundation is pleased to support Roots Uplifted, Inc. a cultural and youth exploration program recently established in New York. With their "Making Global Connections" program, they focus on youth grades 3-8 with presenters in environmental conservation, art, music, science, math, history, physical fitness and nutrition.
Our donation will help fund their backpack nutritional lunch program, cooking classes as well as education supplies and expenses.
The Foundation was happy to partner with Volunteer Houston to break ground for the first-ever Just Energy Sustainable Garden, which took place at Brookline Elementary School in Houston. JE’s CEO’s Jay Lewis and Deb Merril participated in the ribbon cutting along with JE staff whom worked alongside Volunteer Houston representatives and Brookline teachers and staff to construct an outdoor classroom build. This initiative is an effort to teach students about environmental sustainability, while cultivating and empowering our students to be the leaders and change makers of tomorrow.
Check out our photo album on Facebook for more pictures from this event.
Happy to once again support Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL), a premiere youth serving organization impacting 12,000 children each year. Their mission is to reduce crime, promote character development, and improve educational outcomes in Detroit’s youth. PAL works to create safe and supportive places for kids to play, as well as trains and certifies more than 1,700 community volunteers each year to become encouraging coaches and mentors.
Our donation will support their One Thousand Kid Challenge, which aims to grow their programs by 1,000 participants in 2017.
Happy to once again supportAspen Family and Community Network Societywith their Winter Breather program. Our support means that Calgary families in need will receive utility bill payment and grocery support, relieving stress during the winter and holiday seasons.
We are pleased to support Neighborhood Centers Inc., (Sheltering Arms) an organization that builds vibrant communities to keep Houston a place of opportunity for everyone working for a better life. Our donation will support their utility assistance program which services more than 12,000 households annually.
Click here to watch what they had to say about partnering with the Foundation and the impact that will be made for this holiday season.
The Just Energy Foundation was pleased to sponsor The Mississauga Food Bank in their 2016 Holiday Food & Fundraising Drive. Their campaign kicked off at Light Up the Square and Mississauga's Holiday Street Market which drew a crowd of 25,000 people in downtown Mississauga. In just 11 hours, with 3,000 marshmallows and the helping hands of some wonderful JE volunteers The Mississauga Food Bank raised $5,432! That's 13,580 MEALS for the Mississauga community during the toughest season to come. It was a pleasure for the Foundation to play an important part in helping to fight hunger in our local community.
Happy to once again supportBig Brothers Big Sisters of NYCwho provide at-risk youth with professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships with caring adult role models.
We were pleased to present a donation to TheRuth Ellis Center, a youth social services agency located in Highland, Michigan whose mission is to provide short and long term residential safe space and support services for at-risk LGBTQ youth.
Just Energy Foundation is proud to support The Salvation Army, (Mississauga Community & Family Services) Gift of Christmas Concert which brings members of the community together in celebration of the holiday season and raises funds for community and family services.
Click here to watch what The Salvation Army had to say about partnering with the Foundation.
“It was my honor to represent Just Energy. Top Honors is an essential non-profit organization that helps students in the NYC District #3 public middle school with their basic math and critical thinking skills. The program is free to all eligible students, so our donation goes a long way" said Christine who presented the donation along with Samin.
The foundation is happy to support Project HOME, whose mission is to end and prevent homelessness in Philadelphia. Through housing and a continuum support of services including education, employment opportunities and healthcare they are empowering adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable everyone to attain their fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society.
Amy Gasca spoke on behalf of the Just Energy Foundation at the Boston Cares 25th Anniversary and Annual Awards Reception. It was an energy-filled night recognizing 300+ outstanding volunteers, community and corporate partners, and other members of the Boston Cares community who are making a difference in Greater Boston. Congrats to Boston Cares for 25 years of community commitment and to all honorees for their outstanding volunteer actions. Just Energy is committed to play a part in supporting the Boston community and was pleased to donate to the Collective Impact Awards which supports Hunger Release programs.
The foundation is delighted to supportiEducate USA, a unique mentorship program designed to inspire elementary school kids to excel in science and math.
Happy to support Project Access of County Howard a volunteer physician, dental and healthcare provider that delivers comprehensive medical care to qualified, uninsured residents of Howard County, Indiana at little or no cost to the patient. They provide needed health care to citizens of the community who would otherwise not receive access to healthcare providers. Their goal is for patients to achieve optimal health outcomes.
Just Energy Foundation was delighted to help support the Grimbsy Auxiliary Marine Rescue Unit (GAMRU) to purchase vital new navigation equipment. Comprised of volunteers, and most operating costs supported by volunteer contributions, our donation has helped GAMRU secure equipment needed including a new GPS navigation and chart-plotting system.
http://goo.gl/20yv5H
We are proud to once again support the Houston Food Bank through funding from the Just Energy Foundation. Our donation is for their Backpack Buddy program which works to fill the gap by providing nutritious, child-friendly food for school children to take home over the weekend. We have helped provide 7,500 meals to local children in need!
Just Energy Foundation is pleased to support Haynie Spirit Bone Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization raising funds to drive awareness on osteosarcoma, a rare aggressive cancer, common among adolescents and young adults. Our donation will support the Haynie Spirit Bone Cancer Foundation Galveston SeaWalk and will contribute to help the patients and family with individual needs, as well as fund research. Amy Gasca, along with some CSRs from our Houston office we’re pleased to present the donation.
Glad to support Alief Family YMCA in Houston, TX with their annual Operation Backpack Drive. With the generous help of some of our Houston staff as well as a donation from the Just Energy Foundation, we were able to provide approximately 620 students in the Alief area with brand new backpacks filled with school supplies to prepare them for the new school year.
Proud to present a donation to the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL), a non-profit organization positively impacting the lives of more than 12,000 children each year. PAL works to create safe and supportive places for kids to play, as well as trains and certifies more than 1,500 volunteers each year to become encouraging coaches and mentors to the city's youth. In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Detroit PAL builds character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership development programs.
The Just Energy Foundation is happy to support the American Red Cross Texas Spring Flood Relief to help address disaster recovery needs. Houston is home to our U.S. headquarters and we want to make sure we’re helping our neighbors recover from the flooding in the area and throughout Texas. Our donation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the communities where we live and work.
Just Energy is happy to provide financial support to the Salvation Army's Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign to end human trafficking through public awareness, services to trafficked persons, advocacy, and resources and training support to law enforcement.
North York Harvest Food Bank, northern Toronto's primary food bank distributing over two million pounds of food in 2014 through 60 community programs.