On May 9, 2018, College Possible Philadelphia won $20,000 from “NRG Gives,” a charitable-giving program sponsored by the NRG Retail Charitable Foundation.
From April 30 to May 7, College Possible Philadelphia and two other local nonprofits competed in an online voting campaign for a chance to win $100,000 from the energy solutions provider’s charitable program.
The organization with the most votes at the end of the voting period received a $100,000 donation, College Possible Philadelphia came in second place and won $20,000, while the third-place winner received $10,000, all based on voting totals.
“College Possible Philadelphia does terrific work to improve the lives and futures of young people in our community,” says Dave Schrader, manager of public relations at NRG. “The staff and volunteers are so dedicated to the cause so it was an honor to have them as a finalist. We hope the public continues to support their vital work.”
The donation from NRG Gives will support more students in the greater Philadelphia area get to and persist through to college graduation. Specifically, the grant will support College Possible Philadelphia’s high school program, helping to fund the program’s direct expenses, including: SAT student materials from The Princeton Review, AmeriCorps coaches who deliver SAT preparation and college admission counseling along with the professional staff members who supervise the coaches, transportation for students to take four practice SAT tests annually along with the fees for those tests and the technology for the AmeriCorps coaches.
“Winning second place and receiving a $20,000 grant from NRG Gives is a wonderful opportunity for College Possible Philadelphia as we continue to serve students in the greater Philadelphia region. We are committed to helping more students earn their college degree,” says Executive Director Jen Weikert. “This donation also solidifies a new philanthropic partnership with NRG Gives, an organization committed to supporting nonprofits across Pennsylvania.”
Since 2016, the NRG Gives program has donated a total of $375,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations in support of their ongoing efforts and goals. Through NRG Gives, nonprofit organizations are nominated by NRG employees, and the public directs their charitable giving. NRG employees nominated a wide selection of Pennsylvania nonprofits, which were narrowed down to three finalists. Nominated organizations help communities in areas NRG serves.
College Possible Philadelphia is grateful for all who voted and helped spread the word by sharing this opportunity with their family, friends, and social networks.
Thank you for your continued support and your commitment to #MakeItPossible in Philadelphia.
By Ian Reitz
