Page 54 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2022

GIVING BACK
story by Kaila Moran Griffith
photos courtesy of Mississippi Power
Connected to Our Communities
Our employees know that the holidays mean more than keeping your lights shining bright. From partnering with the Salvation Army to make sure kids have a bike from Santa under their tree to assembling care packages for the elderly, we understand the importance of giving back this season.
But for us, service for others is year-round. Our Community Connection employee volunteers committed more than 3,100 hours of service to their communities this year and donated nearly $61,000 to local nonprofit organizations.
“The spirit of giving is in the heart of our employees and our company,” said President and CEO Anthony Wilson. “Nothing brings our employees more joy than spreading holiday cheer through service projects like building a playground or stocking
a food pantry. We are connected to our communities by more than just wires. We strive to make our communities the best they can be, and I am often overwhelmed by the tireless efforts of our employee volunteers and contributions by our Mississippi Power Foundation.”
Investments from the Mississippi Power Foundation are targeted towards education, environmental stewardship, and community revitalization. As a longtime pacesetter for the United Way Campaign, the dollars donated by Mississippi Power employees and our Foundation stay local and directly impact the lives of residents across Coastal Mississippi.
“The Foundation allows us to truly make a difference,” said Mississippi Power Foundation Executive Director Steven Dick. “Whether that’s through offering an environmental grant to the National Audubon Society, providing Heritage Scholarships to students pursuing careers in technical fields or funding a STEM lab for children, we’re creating positive change in our own backyards.”
One of our favorite programs is partnering with our customers for Project SHARE. By adding a donation to their monthly bills, employees and customers can help those who may be having
a difficult time paying their own energy bill. To date, Project SHARE has collected more than $2.1 million through these donations.
As this year ends, we’re ready to continue our dedication to our customers and communities that we take pride in serving and to help make this place we call home so special.
54 | December 2022
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living