CenterPoint Energy recognizes that our success, as well as the success of our customers, neighbors and stakeholders, is connected to supporting and empowering the communities we so proudly serve.
As part of this effort, we collaborate with our employees, elected officials, regulators, community and civic leaders, and neighbors in the communities we serve to address areas of need. That’s why we focus our charitable investments, volunteerism and other community-based activities on nonprofit organizations and causes aligned with our giving pillars.
We seek to improve the areas we serve by supporting programs that strengthen relationships, enhance quality of life and help communities thrive. We support students having the opportunities and tools they need to succeed academically, explore potential careers and be equipped to enter the workforce.
Total Community Investments:
$16.9 Million
2023 Community Vitality Giving: $7,217,054
- Affordable Housing – Initiatives leading to increased access to quality, energy-efficient and affordable housing
- Environment – Initiatives helping to make our communities more sustainable and resilient for the future
- Thriving Communities – Quality of place and resident-led initiatives leading to vibrant neighborhoods, cities and states
Through a $150,000 grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation, Homefull Healthy Living in West Dayton, Ohio, continued work on their new construction of a multi-use health clinic, grocery store and job training program. The facility will create over 200 permanent jobs when completed.
2023 Education Giving: $7,326,574
- Literacy – Literacy and tutoring programs focused on early childhood through adult learners
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) – Education programs targeted to under-resourced areas or under-represented populations, as well as digital device access
- Workforce Development – Programs addressing the workforce needs of our communities
In partnership with the state of Indiana, the CenterPoint Energy Foundation provided $729,000 in funding to expand Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library into four new counties and continued supporting programs in eight other counties. Through the program, more than 164,000 books were distributed in 2023.
2023 STEM Education Giving: $1,225,755
- Provided grants for 3,100 hours of one-on-one literacy tutoring
- Issued grants allowing for 111,117 students to be engaged in STEM activities or events
- Distributed 254 STEM devices, including computers and tablets, and 3,282 STEM kits
CenterPoint Energy’s funding of $500,000 to YMCA of Southwestern Indiana enabled the renovation of a branch hosting an after-school program in an under-resourced neighborhood. Builds included a new kitchen for addressing neighborhood food insufficiency, a state-of-the-art STEM lab and a technology center.
The CenterPoint Energy Foundation works with Carnegie Vanguard High School’s Women in Science and Engineering Club in Houston, an organization for students who aspire to work in the technology and engineering fields. Our female engineers engage students on using science and technology to help solve real-world problems and encourage them to be a catalyst for social change.
Volunteerism
Employee volunteerism is an integral part of CenterPoint Energy’s commitment to our communities and employee engagement strategy. We provide opportunities for employees to participate in company-organized volunteer efforts and encourage them to contribute their time and talents to causes they care about. Through building relationships with each other and the communities we serve, our volunteer program helps employees develop career and leadership skills.
Employees volunteer with a broad array of nonprofit organizations and causes across our service territory. Examples include Granted – Indiana, Paint Your Heart Out Shreveport – Louisiana, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity – Minnesota, Long Beach National Night Out – Mississippi, Crayons to Classrooms – Ohio, and United Way of Greater Houston – Texas where we are ranked as one of the organization’s top 10 corporate campaigns.
2023 Volunteerism
- 84,518 Employee Volunteer Hours
- 32% of Employees Volunteered
- 87 Company Leaders Served on Nonprofit Boards and Committees
- $71,000 in Volunteer Grants
Volunteer Grants recognize, support and encourage employee efforts through grants to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based on 40+ hours of service to the same nonprofit.
2023 Matching Gifts
- $888,929 Matched by the CenterPoint Energy Foundation
Our Easy Match program matches the contributions employees make, dollar for dollar, to charitable organizations of their choice.
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