BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) today announced that it is providing more than $300,000 in grants to more than 40 local nonprofit organizations committed to environmental preservation, protection and enhancement. In its second year and as part of BGE’s steadfast commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and philanthropic giving, the BGE Green Grants program, is specifically designed for 501c3 nonprofit organizations across BGE’s central Maryland service that are committed to making a positive impact on the environment.
Today, BGE held a press conference at the Spa Creek Conservancy’s Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, where BGE’s Chief Executive Officer, Calvin G. Butler Jr., presented $300,000 in grants to representatives from the 44 nonprofit organizations that received a 2014 BGE Green Grant. . The BGE Green Grants range from $500 to $10,000 each and were awarded in the following environmental focus areas: conservation, education, energy efficiency, pollution prevention and community engagement.
Some of the great examples of the initiatives and projects that received funding and support through the BGE Green Grants program include:
- 4-H Chesapeake Bay Stewards Program
- Project Clean Stream and Clean Water Communities
- Rainscape and Environmental Educational Program
- Bio-science Educational Program and Outreach
- Fall Free Tree Giveaway
- Increasing Tree Canopy Projects
- Recycling days
- Neighborhood Beautification
- A Green Place to Play
- Community Wildlife Habitat
- Fresh Fruit Farm
“BGE has a long-standing commitment to enhancing the communities we serve, whether it is through philanthropic giving or employee volunteer opportunities, and the BGE Green Grants program represents an opportunity for the company to extend our commitment of environmental stewardship and community support to our customers,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., chief executive officer for BGE. “Importantly, this grant program has the opportunity to make a very visible and positive impact on communities throughout central Maryland. Whether through conservation of green space and habitat preservation and protection, or through community activism such as cleanups and the creation of urban forests or community gardens, these grants will provide the funds to help make these projects both viable and successful.”
As part of its commitment to building strong communities in central Maryland, BGE supports environmental enhancement initiatives like the BGE Green Grants program. Since its founding nearly 200 years ago, BGE has played an integral role in working with Maryland communities to address economic development, public safety, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in areas of energy efficiency and assistance, the environment, education, economic and community development, and emergency response and safety.
BGE’s corporate citizenship aligns with that of its parent company, Exelon Corporation. As part of Exelon’s merger in March 2012, Exelon and its subsidiaries have committed to maintain charitable giving of an average of $7 million per year in Maryland, including BGE’s service area, for the next 10 years. The BGE Green Grants program fulfills part of that commitment.
Following is a list of the organizations that received grants and the programs the grants are funding:
Anne Arundel County:
- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay – Project Clean Stream and Vacant Lot Renovation
- Anne Arundel County Watershed Academy – Clean Water Communities
- ARC Central Chesapeake – Project GREEN
- Captain Avery Museum – Rainscape and Environmental Program
- National Wildlife Federation - Community Wildlife Habitat
- Spa Creek Conservancy - Headwaters Stewardship Program
Baltimore City:
- Baltimore Green Space A Land Trust for Community-Managed Open Space Inc. - Preservation Outreach for Baltimore's Community-Managed Open Spaces
- Baltimore Tree Trust – Baltimore Tree Keepers
- Belair-Edison Neighborhoods Inc. – Free the Trees Campaign
- Brown Memorial Weekday School – Nature Play Space
- Catonsville Rails to Trails – Railroad Trail
- Civic Works – Neighborhood Food Forests
- Community Partners – Get to Know Children’s Art Program
- Experiential Environmental Education – Organic Teaching Garden
- Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation – Wilmer Eye Clinic Electrical Relighting
- Junior Achievement – Champions of Green Job Shadowing
- Maryland SPCA – Dog Walking Trail
- Neighborhood Design Center Inc. – Greening Design Partnership
- Operation Second Chance – Green Electric at Ridgley Street
- Patterson Park Audubon Center – Wildlife Habitats in a Diverse Baltimore Community
- Parks and People Foundation – Environmental Stewardship Gaming
- Reservoir Hill Improvement Council – Whitelock Community Park
- St. Francis Neighborhood Center – Green Machine
Baltimore County:
- Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation – LED Light bulb upgrades
- Dundalk Renaissance Corporation – Fall Tree Giveaway
- Friends of Great Kids Farm – Green House Renovation
- Gunpowder Valley Conservancy Inc. – Clear Creeks: Our Water, Our Heritage, Our Pride
- Herring Run Watershed Association - Increasing Tree Canopy in Baltimore County Urban Neighborhoods
- Human Society Wildlife Land Trust – Back River Conservation Improvement
- Irvine Nature Center – Teacher and Naturalist Training
- Pearlstone Conference Center – Kitchen Solar Hot Water Heater
- Rotary Club of Catonsville – Catonsville Community Tree Planting
- School of Living – Permaculture Education in Maryland
- Towson Unitarian Universalist – Wildlife Habitat Conservation Project
- Towson University Foundation – Bioscience Education and Outreach Program
- University of Maryland Extension 4-H – 4-H Bay Stewards Program
Harford County:
- Havre de Grace Maritime Museum – Interactive Exhibits
- Liriodendron Foundation – Energy Efficient Storm Windows
Howard County:
- Center for Watershed Protection – Sligo Creek Water Quality Day
- Friends of Patapsco Valley – Stream Watch Program
- The Howard County Conservancy – Maryland Master Naturalists
- Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education – Growing Green Stewards
Prince Frederick County:
- American Chestnut Land Trust – Community Farm and Garden Project
For more information on the BGE Green Grants program, visit bge.com. For more information on BGE’s commitment to environmental stewardship, visit bge.com. To view photos from the event, visit BGE’s Flickr site. To view a video from the event, visit BGE’s YouTube site.
BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
