NEW ORLEANS, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 50 nonprofit organizations are benefiting from $1.6 million in grant awards from the Entergy Charitable Foundation. The foundation is funded by shareholders of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) and supports strategic investments in improving communities, with special emphasis on education, the environment and services to low income families.
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The grants are the first in three award cycles offered annually by the foundation. Through the program, economic development and tourism in Arkansas will receive a boost as a result of a state-of-the-art LED lighting display in Little Rock. Public education for schoolchildren in Louisiana will be enhanced through Louisiana Public Broadcasting's "Sid the Science Kid," and first responders in Vermont will be better able to serve the needs of the community through ambulance upgrades.
"In addition to operating a world-class energy business, Entergy's mission is to create sustainable value for our stakeholders. That includes our customers and communities," said Patty Riddlebarger, director of corporate social responsibility for Entergy Corporation. "As Entergy celebrates its 100th birthday, we're pleased to partner with these organizations focused on making our cities and towns better places to live, work and play."
Riddlebarger added that Entergy strives to contribute to a society that is healthy, educated, environmentally safe and productive, allowing all stakeholders to benefit. Company owners see stronger revenues from communities with healthy economic and industrial growth. Stronger communities also support quality of life for Entergy customers and employees living and working in the region.
The Entergy Charitable Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization, provides one of several grant programs Entergy offers to communities served. In 2012 Entergy Corporation, the Entergy Charitable Foundation and its subsidiaries awarded grants totaling more than $16 million. Entergy employees also logged more than 85,000 hours of volunteer service last year in communities served by Entergy.
The foundation accepts applications three times per year. For more information about Entergy's corporate citizenship initiatives and to access an application from the Entergy Charitable Foundation, go to "Our Community" at www.entergy.com.
Entergy Corporation, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year, is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and approximately 15,000 employees.
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