Power of Good

The Alabama Power Foundation was created in 1989 with an investment by shareholders. It awards more than 1,300 grants every year. Since its inception, the foundation has given more than $140 million in nonratepayer dollars through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. In addition to its regular grants, the foundation has in-house grant programs that include Good Roots, which provides $1,000 per grant to buy trees to plant in communities and at nonprofit organizations across the state; and Gateway, which supplies up to $2,000 per grant to buy materials for signs that greet visitors to cities, towns and communities. The Alabama Power business Charitable (AbC) Trust Fund was established in 1992 by Alabama Power Company shareholders. It is a 501(c)4 organization that provides energy assistance funding to community action agencies that use the funds to help clients who need help paying their energy bills. The trust covers 60 of Alabama's 67 counties and has provided $38 million in energy assistance, weatherization and special grants for disaster relief and other support for organizations that aid low- income Alabamians. The Alabama Power Service organization (APSo) is a nonprofit group that through volunteerism works to improve communities across Alabama Power's service territory. APSO includes more than 5,000 Alabama Power, Southern Nuclear, SouthernLINC and Southern Company Services employees and their families who volunteer in the communities in which they live. APSO members from 10 chapters across the state typically contribute more than 50,000 volunteer hours each year. who we are: AlAbAmA Power ChAriTAble GivinG ProGrAmS Power of good GrAnT SPoTliGhT In its second year, Power To Play will award up to 36 grants to high school athletics programs across the state. Each grant is worth $2,500. These funds can be used to help start a new sport, upgrade equipment or pay coaching supplements. Power To Play is focused on helping high school athletic programs become more accessible to all students. Studies show that students who participate in athletics perform better in the classroom and are more likely to graduate from high school, among other benefits. Public high schools that have 55 percent or more of their students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches can compete for Power To Play grants. Applications were accepted between Aug. 17 and Oct. 4. Voting began Oct. 19 and will end Nov. 15. Recipients will be announced Nov. 23. "It is exciting to see a community rally around a good cause," said John Hudson, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. "Power To Play gives communities all across the state the opportunity to do just that, to get out and show their support for something that is important to their kids. That's a powerful thing." For more information about the program, visit www.PowerofGood.com. the power of good Powered by AlAbAmA Power Cover: Brighter Minds featured a panel of education and workforce development experts.

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