AVANGRID allots $1M in grants, boosts pandemic relief by $500K

ORANGE, Conn. — May 5, 2020 — The Avangrid Foundation, the independent, philanthropic arm of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), today announced the allocation of $1 million in grants to nonprofit partners and community relief funds as part of a broader commitment to provide assistance for coronavirus relief and recovery across the United States.

In addition, AVANGRID, the parent company of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, announced the commitment of an additional $500,000 in corporate funds to support communities impacted by COVID-19. The announcement coincides with GivingTuesday, a global movement to help transform communities around the world and brings the total AVANGRID corporate and foundation COVID-19 related giving to $2.5 million.

“As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, AVANGRID and the Avangrid Foundation are proud to support national and local partners that are helping to assist the communities that we serve,” said James P. Torgerson, President of the Avangrid Foundation and CEO of AVANGRID, Inc. “Our philanthropic efforts are designed to help sustain strong communities and serve the needs of the most vulnerable. The announcement today builds on those efforts as we support partners and community funds on the front lines of the COVID-19 response.”

Today’s $1.5 million announcement is split between nonprofits serving the communities where AVANGRID’s companies operate, and national organizations that also have affiliates and programs in the 24 states where AVANGRID has an operating presence.
National partnerships focus on addressing the U.S.-based emergency response, food insecurity and health and wellness through the following organizations:

• Feeding America - $150,000
• The American Red Cross - $100,000
• Americares - $100,000
• Meals on Wheels America - $100,000

Awards were also made to the following coronavirus relief and recovery funds administered by community foundations and affiliate partners. These funds will support of critical work of nonprofit organizations in providing community-based health and human services, and/or meet basic needs of income-constrained individuals at the state, county and local level.
Maine:

• COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (Maine Community Foundation)

Massachusetts:

• COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund for Berkshire County (Berkshire United Way & Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation)

New York:

• Rochester Community Crisis Fund (Rochester Area Community Foundation & United Way of Greater Rochester)
• Central New York COVID-19 Community Support Fund, Cayuga County COVID-19 and the Madison County Rural Poverty Fund (Central New York Community Foundation & United Way of Central New York)
• Western NY COVID-19 Community Response Fund (Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo & United Way of Buffalo & Erie County)
• CFSCNY COVID-19 Response Fund (Community Foundation for South Central New York)

Connecticut:

• Connecticut United Ways COVID-19 Response Fund (joint effort of 15 United Way chapters in Connecticut)
• 4-CT Statewide COVID-19 Relief Fund (donor-advised fund of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving)

Oregon:

• COVID-19 Emergency Response – Oregon Community Recovery Fund (Oregon Community Foundation)

AVANGRID and the Foundation are committed to mitigating the impact of the pandemic. All AVANGRID companies have suspended customer shut-offs due to nonpayment, as well as late fees, reconnection fees, interest and security deposits. They recently donated 31,000 protective masks to the COVID-19 response to protect health care workers on the front
lines.
AVANGRID is the parent company of:

• Avangrid Renewables (Portland, Oregon)
• Berkshire Gas (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)
• Central Maine Power (Augusta, Maine)
• Connecticut Natural Gas (East Hartford, Connecticut)
• Maine Natural Gas (Brunswick, Maine)
• New York State Electric and Gas (Binghamton, New York)
• Rochester Gas & Electric (Rochester, New York)
• Southern Connecticut Gas (Orange, Connecticut)
• United Illuminating (Orange, Connecticut)

# # #