#AVANgives 2020
In 2019, the Avangrid Foundation asked employees for the first time to nominate nonprofit organizations in their communities – those which were personally meaningful – for a grant and an opportunity to tell their joint story. The response and following was tremendous.
We called this effort #AVANgives (AVANgives Community Grants Program) and awarded ten, $5,000 grants to youth-focused organizations. These organizations were diverse in mission and geography, but with an underlying goal to serve local communities where AVANGRID has an operating presence – from Portland, OR to Portland, ME and many places in between.
““Immediately, employees across the country embraced #AVANgives as a way to call attention to the underserved, the underprivileged and the selfless people who operate these nonprofits. The inaugural 2019-2020 campaign was a wonderful success and this year’s campaign builds upon that legacy.””
Nicole Licata Grant, Director- Avangrid Foundation
In our 2020-2021 #AVANgives effort, the Foundation expanded the program to twelve organizations with a focus on diversity and inclusion, many with a special focus on women and girls, including in the areas of
- Arts and Culture (women in history, art and culture)
- Education (enrichment, training and educational programs)
- Health & Safety (support for critically ill, other-abled, addiction, mental health, anti-violence, anti-abuse and social justice)
- Social Inclusion & Poverty Reduction
2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which upheld women’s right to vote. Beyond being a historic milestone for gender parity, the 19th Amendment speaks to a broad effort of championing more equitable human rights and bringing diverse voices to the table.
Our 2020-2021 grantees were selected to honor this momentous occasion and decades of women, persons of color, and other marginalized groups fighting for a more equal future for all. The 12 grantees were announced in March in recognition of Women’s History Month.
These stories, which will be told in detail throughout the year, will speak to female leadership, advocacy for women’s rights, empowerment, and employees working side by side with people in our communities every day.
Get to know our 2020-2021 partners including My Happy Place & My Happy Haven (Mason City, IA), The Center for Family Justice (Bridgeport, CT), Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund (Augusta, ME), WALL\THERAPY (Rochester, NY), Stand With Me (Binghamton, NY), Days for Girls (Unadilla, NY), Rahab’s Sisters (Portland, OR), Child, Hunger Outreach Partners (Towanda, PA), Portland Community Squash (Portland, ME), Judy Dworin Performance Project (Hartford, CT), Jessica’s Closet (Jacksonville, VT), Camp Abilities (Brockport, NY). Check out below for their stories:
