Alabama NewsCenter: Alabama Power Foundation releases annual report: ‘At the Point of Change’
Alabama NewsCenter By Michael Sznajderman The Alabama Power Foundation on Monday released its 2020 Annual Report, highlighting the important work of nonprofits statewide during that extraordinary year. Titled “At the Point of Change,” the report examines moments during the last year when challenges turned into opportunities for positive change and how Alabama nonprofits took on those challenges to address critical needs across the state. “During a year that included a devastating pandemic, economic hardship, and a national reckoning around issues of racial and social justice and equity, Alabama’s philanthropic community answered the call,” said Tequila Smith, Alabama Power vice president of Charitable Giving and president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “The foundation’s annual report explores some of the many important projects and initiatives of our nonprofit partners – work that continues every day and is bringing real, positive change for Alabamians, Alabama communities, and for our state,” Smith said. The report features eight nonprofit organizations, from the Boys & Girls Club of Abbeville to The King’s Canvas in Montgomery, to Red Door Kitchen in Talladega. The report also provides an update on Alabama Power Foundation activities during 2020 and its priorities in 2021. Like others in Alabama’s philanthropic community, the Alabama Power Foundation pivoted in 2020 to meet critical needs while intensifying its focus on issues such as education, economic empowerment, and racial equity. Those efforts are ongoing, with the foundation also looking at new and innovative programs in these focus areas in coordination with other nonprofits and charitable organizations. The release of the 2020 Annual Report coincides with the foundation’s annual Elevate Conference, which brings together nonprofits from across Alabama for training sessions, seminars, and networking designed to help foster collaboration and increase their positive impact. Because of the pandemic, for the second year in a row, the conference is being held virtually. The conference concludes Tuesday. “We hope the annual report and the Elevate Conference provide valuable and useful information and resources to our nonprofit partners, to further their missions,” Smith said. The Alabama Power Foundation is committed to empowering communities, bridging the gaps of inequity, and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. Funded by shareholder dollars, the foundation provides philanthropic support to Alabama communities, nonprofits, and educational institutions. To learn more about the Alabama Power Foundation and its charitable initiatives, please visit www.powerofgood.com.
Alabama Power Foundation grant to support Hispanic community, economic empowerment
The coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected communities across the globe. In the U.S., communities of color have been especially hard-hit. A grant to the nonprofit Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) from the Alabama Power Foundation will help Hispanic families navigate through these tough financial times and secure stable and permanent homes, while also expanding opportunities for Hispanic small businesses and entrepreneurs. “This past year has been a challenge for the local Hispanic community, on so many levels,” said Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power CEO and a member of the Alabama Power Foundation board of directors. “Through this grant from the foundation, we hope the coming year will provide better economic opportunities for Hispanic businesses, entrepreneurs, and families to grow and thrive.” The multilayered grant will help fund professional, technical, and marketing services and support for Hispanic small businesses and entrepreneurs, to help them expand and create jobs. It will support financial workshops for Hispanic families to help them build credit, reduce debt and increase savings, while also providing support to aid first-time homeowners, as well as rental assistance and housing counseling for Latino families. In addition, the grant will support a ¡HICA! program that provides microloans to small Hispanic businesses, and a program that provides tax assistance and counseling for businesses and families. “Our Community Economic Development program is focused on providing opportunities for lower- and moderate-income Latino communities across the state,” said Isabel Rubio, ¡HICA! executive director. “It promotes financial stability and asset-building through education, technical assistance, and other support frameworks. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put additional burdens on many Latino families,” Rubio added. “With the help of the Alabama Power Foundation, we hope to continue to work with families and businesses to help them get through these very tough times while paving the way for a more promising future.” Founded in 1999, ¡HICA! is a community development and advocacy organization supported by the United Way of Central Alabama. ¡HICA! champions economic equality, civic engagement, and social justice for Latino and immigrant families in Alabama through a variety of programs and services. ¡HICA!’s Community Economic Development Program, which the foundation grant will support, provides a variety of services – from financial literacy workshops to business planning and development – tailored to help Latino families build financial stability. The Alabama Power Foundation has been a longtime supporter of ¡HICA! and its many activities supporting the Hispanic community. Among those is the annual celebration of Hispanic culture, Fiesta, which takes place in Birmingham in the fall. Alabama Power employees also serve as volunteer leaders with the organization. Deyse Lopez and Lauren Salas Lambiase are Alabama Power employees of Hispanic heritage who work in the company’s Economic and Community Development department. Both serve on the ¡HICA! junior board. Other Alabama Power employees have volunteered over the years in support of other ¡HICA! programs and events. “The Alabama Power Foundation is proud to support ¡HICA! through this latest grant, and to support the many programs and services ¡HICA! provides to help our Latino neighbors, businesses, and entrepreneurs,” said Tequila Smith, Alabama Power Foundation president. “The Hispanic community is an important part of Alabama’s diverse and rich tapestry of cultures,” she said. “Through ¡HICA!’s efforts, and the work of many others, we see a promising future of growth and vitality for the Latino community in Alabama.” Republished with the permission of the Alabama NewsCenter.
