News
February 2, 2018National Grid Foundation Donates $120,000 to Catholic Charities for Local Emergency Energy Assistance
Grant Will Help Residents with Energy Costs During Coldest Time of Year
The National Grid Foundation Donates $120,000 for emergency energy assistance in the 14 Counties of upstate New York served by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany. From left to right, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, Bishop of Albany, and Vincent W. Colonno, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, receive the honorary check from Edward White, Executive Director of the National Grid Foundation.
When cold weather hits, local residents who are struggling to pay energy bills wonder how they can make ends meet and still keep warm. Many find themselves in need of extra help as usage and costs go up when the temperatures drop.
With another very generous grant from the National Grid Foundation, Catholic Charities is able to provide emergency assistance to many individuals and families during a difficult economic time. National Grid Foundation announced on Tuesday a grant of $120,000 for 2018 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany to help people with heating assistance this winter. The increase in this year’s grant will help over 1,400 people with non-fuel specific emergency heating or energy assistance in the fourteen counties served by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany.
“The National Grid Foundation is proud to help our neighbors who are struggling this time of year,” said Edward White, Executive Director of the National Grid Foundation. ” Catholic Charities will be able to administer this funding to connect people with fuel neutral assistance when they need it most. Whether it’s firewood, or heating oil, or propane, or whatever fuel they use – many people will be helped by this grant. Once again, we are thrilled to partner with Catholic Charities to help local residents in need, and we urge our friends and neighbors to join us in helping those less fortunate to receive the gift of warmth.”
Vincent W. Colonno, CEO of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany (left), poses for a photo with Ed White, Executive Director of the National Grid Foundation (right). The National Grid Foundation presented Catholic Charities with a $120,000 grant for emergency energy assistance, which will help an estimated 1,400 people in the fourteen counties served by Catholic Charities. This is the 10th year the National Grid Foundation has presented a grant for fuel-neutral assistance to Catholic Charities.
As part of its effort, Catholic Charities officials also announced a challenge to the greater community to donate to assist those in need with contributions to the Emergency Energy Assistance Fund (EEAF). Visitors to the Catholic Charities website (http://www.ccrcda.org/) can click on a link that will take them to a contribution page customized for the EEAF. In addition, local Catholic Charities agencies also will be promoting this challenge in their communities, and word will spread through their newsletters to donors and friends of the 14 Catholic Charities agencies. A gift as small as $5 can help keep a family warm for an evening.
This year’s $120,000 grant was presented in Albany to Catholic Charities Chief Executive Officer Vincent W. Colonno and Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger. “This is the tenth year that we’re able to partner with the National Grid Foundation,” said Mr. Colonno. “Each year they’ve been able to increase the good that we can do in communities across the 14 counties we cover. We’re so grateful for their support, and we look forward to helping people who are going through a difficult time. We will put this funding to use immediately, and begin helping people right away.” Mr. Colonno urged anyone who is in need of heating assistance to reach out to their local Catholic Charities office.
