LOADING

Type to search

AVANGRID Employees Make a Difference During Earth Week

Avangrid Earth Week 2023 Protecting our Planet

AVANGRID Employees Make a Difference During Earth Week

Share

This year’s Earth Day theme was “Investing in our Planet,” and that’s what AVANGRID employees did this past week. Over 200 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to participate in 19 events throughout TX, AZ, MA, OR, NY, ME, and CT to help support the earth.

“Thank you to everyone who signed up and participated in the volunteering event this past week,” said Mary Brayall, Avangrid Foundation Lead Analyst. “We are now up to 2,200 hours of volunteer work. Let Earth Day serve as a reminder to take responsible actions towards protecting our planet for present and future generations.”

Connecticut

On Saturday, volunteers joined the West Haven Sandy Point Bird Sanctuary Cleanup to dispose of trash and other debris throughout Sandy Point Beach and Marsh in West Haven. Just down the road, another group of volunteers supported the Urban Resources Initiative for their East Rock Park Cleanup in New Haven.

“I had a great time volunteering with Friends of East Rock Park, and I’m glad AVANGRID supports these opportunities. It was a great way to give back on Earth Day and get to know some of my colleagues better,” said Jillian Winterkorn, Manager of Conservation and Load Management.

“For me, volunteering on Earth Day is a means of making our communities a little bit nicer in the hopes that it will lift up someone’s day and inspire them to do the same. It’s also a great way to go to places and meet interesting people you wouldn’t otherwise. We’re all brought together by a shared goal: making the world a better place, little by little,” said Eric Iverson, Engineer of Distribution Infrastructure.

“The cleanup at East Rock Park was fun! It was great to work outside and to help out the town of New Haven. Environmental stewardship is a passion of mine and I like to volunteer for a good cause. I plan on being there next time,” said James Trombetta Meter Engineer.

Boston

On Tuesday, Mystic River Cleanup at Blessing of the Bay Park, volunteers walked around the park and path to pick up trash.

“I am always amazed at the true determination of my co-workers at AVANGRID towards making the world a better place. This commitment is always evident, whether in meetings discussing the positive impacts of our projects or in the local community cleaning up our parks and watersheds. The shared vision for a better planet makes AVANGRID an amazing company to be a part of,” said Max Rudzinsky, Global Graduate of Environmental Affairs.

New York

Volunteers joined Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Inc. in Brewster on Friday to clean horse barns. Tasks included sweeping, window cleaning, and fixing stall mats.

“This event holds a special place in my heart. I grew up with horses, so this volunteer opportunity was very nostalgic and therapeutic while being able to give back to the community at the same time. We couldn’t have asked for better weather to help Pegasus Horse Farm with various projects around the property,” said Melissa Ainey, Key Account Manager for Field Relationship Management.

Maine

Thursday, volunteers spent the afternoon at Augusta Food Bank helping clean up the exterior and interior of their building.

“My favorite part about this Earth Week event is being able to get out of your comfort zone and volunteering at an event; I have met people I would not normally meet, customers, retirees, co-workers, VPs, and as we work, volunteer together, we share a common bond, we have dedicated some time to doing something for an organization, that is a charity, that is out there in the same community that CMP, AVANGRID, and Maine Natural Gas is serving, and they are doing something good in that same community. So, by helping that charity in some way, we can have a little slice of the good work that charity does for our community,” said Andrew Haughey, Lead Material Hazardous Waste Technician.

On Friday, the great Cobbossee Watershed hosted a cleanup event by Kennebec Land Trust.

“I volunteered for Earth Week because it is the right thing to do for our communities and planet. We had a great group of folks who pitched in and got all the trash picked up and raked on the trails and roadside,” said Adam Clark, Project Manager.

“I felt volunteering this year was more important than ever with the pending referendum in November regarding government-controlled power; trying to make a conscious effort to show our customers that “WE are CMP”, said Leslie Clark, Supervisor of Field Customer Service. “It was also great to spend time working together with fellow employees from other districts whom I had not seen in some time; we were able to make the Cobbossee Watershed area safer by removing lots of sharp items from the area and remove several large items of debris.

“As a lifelong Mainer, it is important for me to give back to the communities that we all grew up in, that shaped us into the individuals we are today, and help when and where we can. When this Cobbossee Watershed Cleanup opportunity presented itself, we jumped at the opportunity to give back to the community and help clean up the beautiful nature walk for all ages to enjoy,” said Jeremy Pettengill, Manager Projects Unit.

 

“I decided to volunteer for Earth Week to join the national cleanup efforts in keeping our planet healthy for future generations. I’m a mother of four children, and having a planet that is sustained for many years is important. I do my part in reducing global warming so the next generations can enjoy this wonderful planet that we call home,” said Heather Lajoie, Supervisor if Business Support and Solutions.

Oregon

AVANGRID employees helped sort and bag costumes for the Chelsea Hicks Foundation’s Chelsea’s Closet, a rolling dress-up closet that provides costume parties for children in the hospital.

“I initially chose this one as an opportunity to meet new team members out of the office environment, and this cause was very special to a few of them. Learning about how they were started and what support they provided to lift up children and families that were dealing with life-changing decisions by adding love, smiles, and humor to give them strength is what I walked away with knowing I want to do more for this amazing organization,” said Tina Ullmann, VP People Business Partners & Labor.

“The Chelsea Hicks Foundation struck a chord with me as such a great cause I found myself NEEDING to volunteer. Cancer has struck my family numerous times, and I feel very drawn to any organization that focuses on making life more enjoyable for people suffering from this disease. Any organization that strives to bring joy and happiness to suffering children and families is worth supporting. They do such amazing work,” said Kimberly Noll, Asset Manager.

“Volunteering at the Chelsea Hicks Foundation was a very meaningful experience. We were able to help support an organization that brings joy to many children in the hospital through the donation of costumes. It was rewarding knowing that our efforts preparing superhero and fantasy outfits will brighten the lives of kids in need,” said Alexander Mitasev, Lead Electrical Engineer.

The Permitting and Environmental Affairs team was in Phoenix, AZ, and participated in a volunteering event at Liberty Wildlife. The group supported ground maintenance by removing weeds between enclosures and native plants.

“Volunteering with my team was an enjoyable way to give back to an organization that contributes to the health of wildlife. We learned about the facility and the species it benefits and reflected on why our work is so important. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend you stop by,” said Jessica Setter, Permitting Manager.

Leave a Comment