Community Support

SJI invests time as well as human and financial resources in the communities we serve.

We support a variety of local non-profit, commerce and civic organizations that can have a measurable, positive impact.

Our investments during 2019 totaled more than $750,000 in financial support, over $50,000 in employee giving and significant hours of employee volunteerism.

The Government Affairs team builds strong relationships in the community, fostering open dialogue to not only better serve our customers, but to assist when issues arise. Our visibility and involvement within the communities we serve helps us to build relationships with elected officials and community leaders that are essential to ensure communication without customers is clear and support is available when needed. The team regularly sponsors and volunteers at local events to lend a hand and get to know the people we are serving.

To respond directly to the needs in our community our customer outreach teams host and attend events across our service territory – connecting customers with programs that make it easier to afford natural gas service. Additionally, we partner with local agencies to ensure customers know where they can turn if they ever need support with their natural gas services. The strategy employed by our teams ensures that customers have the opportunity to build relationships with our representatives as they become pillars of local support events.

Corporate & Employee Giving

Across our organization, giving is an invaluable part of how we serve our communities. From financial contributions to volunteering, we are proud to have a positive impact in our communities and continue to identify ways to support our neighbors.

Corporate Giving

Our investments during 2019 totaled more than $750,000 in financial support for community, civic and business organizations across New Jersey. Underserved communities, veterans, first responders, food banks, college foundations, hospital foundations and more benefited from our giving – as we forged partnerships to create lasting impacts.

First Responders Grant Program

Now in its fourth year, the South Jersey Gas First Responders Grant Program supports the critical life-saving efforts conducted by first responders. This program assists paid or volunteer fire, emergency medical services and police departments that serve one or more municipalities in our service area. In 2019, South Jersey Gas distributed $33,000 in grants towards new protective gear, thermal cameras, dual-band radios, carbon monoxide detectors and natural gas monitoring meters. Since the program was founded, South Jersey Gas has contributed more than $92,000 to support our local first responders.

Game On Grant Program

Our South Jersey Gas Game On Grant Program provides much-needed support to sustain local, community youth-centered athletic programs, leagues, clubs, associations and recreational organizations. The program distributed $20,000 in grants during 2019 towards field improvements, new uniforms and equipment. Since the program was founded in 2011, the program has provided $155,000 in local support.

Employee Volunteerism

SJI Employee Resource Group members, departments seeking team-building opportunities and SJI interns volunteered for many initiatives throughout 2019:

MLK Day of Service, where employees participated in multiple service activities across the region from packing meals to writing cards
Adopt-A-Road Program where employees cleaned a road in the South Jersey Gas service territory multiple times throughout the year
Funny Farm Rescue Animal Sanctuary in Mays Landing, where employees beautified the grounds and cared for the animals
Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce’s Day of Action, where employees assembled STEM program kits for Girl Scouts
Folsom Elementary School, where employees taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade students about financial literacy through a grant with Junior Achievement of New Jersey
Cape May County Zoo, where employees planted close to 1,000 pieces of shrubbery as part of a beautification project
Coats for Kids through the NJ Motorsports Park in Millville, where employees paired up with underserved children to assist in picking out a new winter coat and gloves

Our efforts to foster a culture of giving among our employees resulted in employee financial contributions through our annual Employee Giving campaign to support the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity totaling more than $50,000 as well as significant contributions totaling more than $65,000 to support the American Heart Association and hours of volunteerism during 2019 to local causes.