Grants totaling more than $47,000 power life in Southeast Texas communities

Special to The Leader

BEAUMONT, Texas – The Entergy Charitable Foundation is powering life in Southeast Texas communities with recent grants to nonprofit partners totaling more than $47,000. Charitable organizations may apply for support by completing the application form by Feb. 1, 2016.

The grants, funded by shareholders, create value for customers and local communities by enhancing educational opportunities, protecting the environment and providing resources for low-income customers. The grants bring Entergy Corporation’s total giving for 2015 to approximately $16 million, including $2.1 million from the Entergy Charitable Foundation. The foundation awards grants in two cycles each year.

Grants awarded to Texas organizations in this cycle include:

• $5,000 to the Port Arthur Public Schools Foundation for innovative teacher grants designed to encourage,  facilitate,  recognize  and  reward  innovative  instructional approaches  that  enhance  academic  excellence  in  the  Port  Arthur Independent School District.
• $5,000 to Tamina Community Center in Conroe for Steps Up for Tamina Children  providing children of working parents a safe and nurturing environment during the hours outside the school day.
• $5,000 to Huntsville Education Foundation for a teacher enrichment fund providing experiences above and beyond what a student regularly receives in the classroom.
• $5,000 to New Caney ISD to develop classroom libraries through the Friend of the Foundation Partnership.
• $5,000 to the Orange Community Action Association for home delivered and group meals for senior citizens in need.
• $5,000 to Friendship Social and Civic Club in Port Arthur to support a back-to-school program that allows all school-age children to receive backpacks with all needed school supplies.
• $4,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Deep East Texas to help fund the Boys & Girls Club of Hardin County’s after-school program, providing a safe, positive, affordable program for economically disadvantaged youth ages 6 to 18 after school when their parents are at work providing for their family
• $3,500 to Orangefield High School Backpack Program that provides food for weekend and holiday meals for students who might otherwise go hungry while away from school meals.
• $3,000 to Anayat House, Inc. in Beaumont for the 50 Bednights program, covering nightly accommodations for patients undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals or family caregivers.
• $2,500 to St Vincent De Paul St. Mary’s Church in Plantersville to supply the food pantry for home visits to needy residents.
• $1,900 to Lumberton Independent School District to fund innovative education grants to enrich and expand programs needed to meet the district’s stated mission of excellence in education.

“Entergy employees power life by keeping the electricity flowing and by improving local communities through volunteerism and other contributions,” said Sallie Rainer, president and CEO of Entergy Texas, Inc. “Shareholder dollars made available through the Entergy Charitable Foundation strengthen our communities by supporting education, breaking the cycle of poverty and improving the environment.”

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 430,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy 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 nearly 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.