POWERGRAMS

APSO 6 Thirty years of helping others: ABC Trust Fund marks milestone CREATED BY ALABAMA POWER, THE TRUST PROVIDES ENERGY SUPPORT TO PEOPLE STATEWIDE Sometimes, a little help can make all the difference. For 30 years, that's been a guiding principle for the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund (ABC Trust). And over those 30 years, that help has added up to make a big difference for hundreds of thousands of families across the state. "I would say, over the past 30 years, the community action network and the nonprofit human services network across the state would not be as impactful as we are today without the support of the ABC Trust," said Kris Rowe, executive director of the Community Action Association of Alabama. "They haven't just been just a provider of funding. They have been a real partner to the community action network." Created by Alabama Power in 1992, the ABC Trust works with community action agencies, nonprofits and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to support the energy needs of low-income families in 60 counties in central and south Alabama. The trust works with partner organizations to support weatherization projects and other basic human needs. During those 30 years, the ABC Trust – which is not funded with ratepayer dollars – has grown and evolved its energy assistance to meet the changing needs of lower- income Alabamians and the nonprofit agencies that work with them. "It's incredible to think about this milestone for the ABC Trust," said Tan Grayson, who manages the trust as part of Alabama Power's Charitable Giving organization. "And while it's great to look back on the accomplishments, we are definitely looking forward, with a focus on continuing to serve some of our state's most vulnerable citizens." At the core of the ABC Trust mission is providing emergency assistance for families struggling to pay their energy bill. Since its founding, the trust has distributed more than $34 million in emergency energy assistance to low- income families through community action agencies and nonprofit partners. But the trust does much more. Today, it also provides other emergency support for families, including rental assistance and help with food security. Another type of energy assistance is offered through the trust's Home Forward program. It provides grants for energy system upgrades and energy- related weatherization improvements for low-income households. Eligibility is determined through the trust's community action agency partners. The Home Forward program is a double blessing. Not only does it offer valuable energy efficiency improvements to the homes of families with limited Sharon King works in Katie's Kloset in Clanton, operated by the nonprofit Raleigh's Place, which helps fatherless children. A grant from the ABC Trust's Efficiency Forward program helped Raleigh's Place replace its inefficient HVAC unit and make other energy-related improvements. The upgrades helped the organization reduce its power bill by more than half.

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