SJI Celebrates Giving Tuesday by Reflecting on 2021 as a Year of Giving and Support to Local Communities
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South Jersey Industries News
FOLSOM, NJ, November 30, 2021 – In celebration of Giving Tuesday, today, SJI (NYSE:SJI) is proud to reflect on 2021 as a year of support and giving to local communities. SJI and its subsidiaries, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas, provided more than half a million dollars to local communities, with SJI’s employees alone raising $155,000 through its annual employee giving campaign.
"Throughout 2021, SJI continued to support the communities we serve with an emphasis on local youth and communities with limited access to critical resources," stated Mike Renna, President and CEO, SJI. "In 2022, SJI looks forward to continuing to support our community partners and expanding on our programs to have an even larger positive impact upon the communities we proudly serve."
Below is a snapshot of SJI's contributions to support local communities:
- Education Initiatives: In 2021, SJI made strides to strengthen its support for educational organizations and initiatives that provide vital resources for our region's youth and future leaders. SJI provided scholarships and sponsored events through the Stockton University Foundation, Rowan University Foundation, the Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship, Monmouth University, Folsom Elementary School, the Cumberland County College Foundation, Gloucester County Hero Scholarship Fund and Junior Achievement of New Jersey. Elizabethtown Gas continued its Fueling the Future Scholarship at Union County College, which supports ten students pursuing a career in STEM each year. In addition, SJI gifted 20 students from the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence Bootcamp with personal computers to celebrate their program completion.
- Community Support: Throughout 2021, SJI and its subsidiaries, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas, provided meaningful support to local nonprofits and organizations that deliver critical support to those in need. SJI made donations to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry, Katz Jewish Community Center, Stand Up for Salem, PHI Community Foundation, Alpha Corps Foundation and the Nature Conservancy Braille Trail. South Jersey Gas also donated to the Green Flag Committee, supporting NJ Motorsports Park's annual Coats for Kids clothing drive. In addition, Elizabethtown Gas continued its support of various community-based organizations, including Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, New Jersey Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund, Union County Performing Arts Center, Warren County Habitat for Humanity and Josephine's Place, a storefront, drop-in space dedicated to women's empowerment. In October, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas kicked off the First Responders Grant Program, which will provide critical support for operations conducted by first responder departments in their respective service areas.
- Low-Income Support: Elizabethtown Gas continued its longtime support of several community organizations offering social services that benefit lower-income individuals and families in the service area, including the Puerto Rican Action Board (PRAB), Puerto Rican Organization for Community Education and Economic Development (PROCEED) and FEED NJ. The South Jersey Gas Customer Outreach Team consulted with residential customers in Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland, Gloucester and Camden counties on available financial assistance programs.
- Local Youth and Sports: SJI made donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Union County and Atlantic City. SJI also sponsored events and scholarships through the National Football Foundation, Lenape Boys Lacrosse and the Steve Rooney Memorial Fund in support of its annual Halfball Tournament. Additionally, through the Game On Grant Program, $20,000 in grants were provided to local, community-centered children's athletic programs that supported the purchase of equipment, uniforms, and field improvements.
- Healthcare Support: Recognizing the extraordinary needs that continue to face our medical and first responder communities due to the global pandemic, SJI continued its longstanding support of the Virtua Health Foundation, Trinitas Health Foundation, Inspira Health Foundation and Shore Medical Center. SJI also sponsored events that raised awareness for various health concerns afflicting our communities through the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, Cooper Hospital Foundation and the March of Dimes.
- Employee Giving: Through SJI's coordinated Employee Giving Campaign, employees across our organization donated over $155,000 to support nonprofits that directly serve our communities. These organizations include the American Red Cross, the New Jersey Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, New Jersey Veterans Network, Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Junior Achievement of New Jersey, American Association of Blacks in Energy and Arc, the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Economic Development: To continue the advancement of our local economy, SJI, South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas maintained support of several organizations committed to serving New Jersey's small businesses, including the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, African American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Hammonton Chamber of Commerce, Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce and Phillipsburg Chamber of Commerce. SJI also partnered with several other economic development organizations, such as the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, Southern New Jersey Development Council, New Jersey Alliance for Action, Chelsea Economic Development Corporation, NJ SEED, New Jersey Association of Counties, Metro Business and Citizens Association, Choose New Jersey and Atlantic County Economic Alliance.
For more information about SJI and its subsidiaries, please visit sjindustries.com.