National Grid Donates $630,000 to United Way Chapters in Central New York

SYRACUSE, NY (03/03/2011)(readMedia)-- National Grid and its employees have donated $630,000 to several United Way chapters in central New York, part of the $1.1 million donated by the energy company and its employees across Upstate New York.

"We continue to strengthen our long-time support of United Way endeavors, and recognize the valuable outreach the organization provides in our communities," said Susan Crossett, Vice President Economic Development Community Investment US and current Chair of the United Way Campaign for the Central New York chapter. "Our employees remain stalwart in their generosity and concern for their fellow neighbors by donating to the United Way even during these challenging economic times."

Throughout the company's U.S. service area, this year more than 6,800 National Grid's employees pledged more than $2.1 million to the United Way campaign. When combined with the company's contribution of $1.3 million, National Grid's total pledges for the recently completed campaign came to $3.4 million, matching last year's record-setting levels.

"Thanks to the generosity of National Grid and its employees, more individuals, children, and families in central New York will have the opportunity for a better life," said Frank J. Lazarski, President, United Way of Central New York. "United Way of Central New York is proud to be among many partners with National Grid and a recipient of the company's investment of dollars, time, and community leadership. It is our constituents who win."

Central New York United Way chapters that also received National Grid employee and corporate donations include the Greater Utica United Fund, United Way of Cayuga County, United Way of Cortland County, Inc., United Way of Franklin Co, United Way of Fulton County, Inc., United Way of Greater Oneida, United Way of Greater Oswego County, Inc., United Way of Greater Rochester, United Way of Northern New York, Inc., United Way of Ontario County, United Way of Rome New York & Western Oneida County, and United Way of Seneca County.

Planning for the annual campaign began in late spring, with over 100 employees volunteering their assistance on events including Days of Caring, which took place in September throughout all National Grid service territories.

"Our annual United Way campaign is one of the most effective ways we can give back to the communities in which we serve," said National Grid President Tom King. "For more than 50 years, we've depended on United Way's expertise to help maximize the impact of our contributions to provide assistance to people throughout our service area," he added. National Grid's support of United Way chapters results in assistance to more than 1 million people across four states.

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S., National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, and manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. National Grid also owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation that provides power to over one million LIPA customers.

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