Press Releases
05/01/2023
Avangrid Foundation Kicks-Off Hurricane Preparedness Week With $250,000 Donation To Red Cross
Avangrid Foundation Kicks-Off Hurricane Preparedness Week With $250,000 Donation To Red Cross
Donation will support Red Cross’ National Disaster Responder Program
Brings AVANGRID’s lifetime donations to more than $4.6 million
ORANGE, Conn. — May 1, 2023 — The Avangrid Foundation marked the start of Hurricane Preparedness Week today by recommitting to the American Red Cross’ National Disaster Responder Program with a $250,000 donation. These funds proactively ensure the Red Cross is prepared to help meet the needs of people both locally and across the United States who are affected by disasters. The Red Cross and AVANGRID also raised awareness of what residents can do to prepare for natural disasters as hurricane season approaches.
“As a community and as a nation, we rely on the Red Cross in times of crisis,” said Pedro Azagra, CEO of AVANGRID. “Our team serves as first-responders during natural disasters, so we see first-hand the urgent needs of families and communities during challenging times. We also intimately understand the importance of preparation to drive an efficient response. The Red Cross’ Disaster Responder Program removes barriers and ensures they’re available to meet these urgent needs. We’re honored to proactively support their critical efforts before disaster strikes, especially as hurricane season approaches, and strengthen our longtime partnership.”
“As we mark the beginning of Hurricane Preparedness Week and enter storm season in Connecticut, community partners like the Red Cross are critical to ensuring an efficient emergency response in our service areas,” said Frank Reynolds, president and CEO of United Illuminating. “We’re proud to be longtime partners with the Red Cross and are grateful for their unwavering support in critical times. Collaborations like these are proof of our steadfast commitment to making a meaningful, positive impact in the communities we serve.”
The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters each year across the country, including home fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and wildfires. In the last 10 years, the number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. has increased 70%. And in our country’s history, hurricanes have accounted for eight of the 10 most costly weather disasters. The Red Cross Disaster Responder Program proactively ensures the Red Cross is prepared to respond to these disasters at a moment's notice by powering them with strong infrastructure, trained volunteers, innovative technology and critical resources necessary to meet urgent needs of disaster survivors. The Avangrid Foundation has been a program member since 2018 and is one of only two members in Connecticut.
The AVANGRID family of companies and the Avangrid Foundation are longtime partners of the Red Cross. The partnership spans decades—the company has donated more than $4.6 million to the organization and has held countless blood drives across its service areas, totaling nearly 3,000 pints of blood donated by AVANGRID employees. The AVANGRID team also volunteer regularly with the Red Cross at blood drives, via its Sound the Alarm program to install free smoke alarms, by assembling comfort kits for homeless veterans and more. The AVANGRID family of companies includes Central Maine Power, United Illuminating, Connecticut Natural Gas, Southern Connecticut Gas, Berkshire Gas, New York State Electric & Gas, and Rochester Gas and Electric.
“We are grateful for the Avangrid Foundation and AVANGRID's unwavering commitment to our lifesaving mission,” said Mario Bruno, CEO of the Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “As a longtime Disaster Responder supporter, their ongoing contributions have been instrumental in helping us prepare communities for emergencies, not just during times of crisis, but all year round. From installing smoke alarms in local residences to hosting blood drives to bringing comfort to local veterans, AVANGRID has demonstrated time and again their dedication to our community. We are proud to stand alongside them as we work together to make a difference in the lives of those in need."
During today’s event, the companies also raised awareness of what residents can do to prepare for natural disasters, including hurricanes. Residents are encouraged to prepare before the hurricane season begins on June 1 by determining their area’s flood risk; finding their evacuation zone; building an emergency kit; making an evacuation plan; and knowing how to stay informed.
About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $44 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, Avangrid has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, Avangrid owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Avangrid employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2024, Avangrid ranked first among utilities and 12 overall. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2024 for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola’s main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.
With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
