UniSource Energy Services contributed more than $425,000 in 2021 to 112 nonprofit organizations focused on providing community assistance, education and environmental stewardship.
UniSource funded a range of organizations, projects and events last year. We sponsored creek cleanups and trail maintenance, as well as food and clothing drives for local banks and shelters. Our youth support included assistance for after-school programs, books for toddlers, and school projects in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). We also donated more than $17,000 to efforts that advance diversity, equity and inclusion in our communities.
UniSource’s philanthropic contributions come from corporate resources and are not recovered through customers’ rates. Our community partners use our contributions to sustain programs with measurable success built over many years.
Our investments were made in all of the territories where UniSource provides gas or electric service. Highlights from each area include:
Cottonwood, six recipients
- Arizona Junior Rodeo Association – $5,000
- Verde Valley Imagination Library – $5,000
Flagstaff, 19 recipients
- American Cancer Society of Northern Arizona – $5,000
- Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth – $5,000
- Coconino County Community Services – $5,000
- Flagstaff Family Food Center – $5,000
- Friends of Camp Colton – $5,000
- Natural Restorations – $5,000
Kingman, 21 recipients
- Kingman Area Food Bank – $5,000
- Kingman Powerhouse Kiwanis – $5,000
- Mohave Scholastic Clay Target Program’s Forest Cleanup – $5,000
- Raising Special Kids – $5,000
- River Cities United Way – $5,000
- The CLUB for YOUth – $5,000
Lake Havasu City, 15 organizations
- K-12 Foundation for Lake Havasu Unified School District – $7,500
- The Clothes Closet – $6,000
- ASU Foundation’s Promoting Student Success Scholarship – $5,250
Nogales, 18 recipients
- Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona – $10,000
- Wisdom Sports and Scholars – $8,000
- Santa Cruz Training Programs – $6,174
- Nogales Education Foundation – $6,000
Prescott, 15 recipients
- The Launch Pad Teen Center – $3,500
- Highlands Center for Natural History – $2,500
- Prescott Animal Park Association – $2,500
- Prescott Creeks Preservation Association – $2,500
Show Low area, 12 recipients
- Those That Wait, Inc. – $3,300
- Show Low High School STEM Club – $3,000
“Our employees live and work in the communities we serve. Not only are we committed to providing safe, reliable gas and electric service to our friends and neighbors, but we are also dedicated to being great partners in making these communities outstanding places to live,” said Terry Nay, UniSource Senior Director of Energy Delivery. “For this reason, we focus on volunteering in our local communities and providing grants to local nonprofit groups that help our communities succeed.”
Some of the organizations and community projects we support are chosen by UniSource’s Community Action Teams, employee-led committees that organize volunteer and donation activities to benefit the causes closest to their hearts in each community.
“We and those we serve are so appreciative of UniSource Energy Service’s partnership with us,” said Scott Neuman, Empowerment Program Manager of Coconino County Community Services. “UniSource’s donation has allowed us to reach more of the low-income and high-risk families in our community.”
A grant to The And Then Initiative supports members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as others in-need in the Mohave County area. “This year’s Community Impact Grant will help us to make sure people are seen, cheered on, met with compassion without judgment, and shown that they are valued and loved by allowing us to continue the services we provide year-round,” said Taylor Blake, Vice President of The And Then Initiative.
UniSource customers also supported nonprofit organizations through our new UniSource Gives program, which started in 2021. Every time customers signed up for Budget Billing, e-Bill or Auto Pay, we made a donation to a designated charity each quarter. The recipients were:
- Arizona Food Bank Network – $12,414
- Arizona Children’s Association – $10,000
- Junior Achievement – $10,000
- Nature Conservancy – $10,000
In addition, UniSource continued its support of bill assistance for low-income customers with a $50,000 contribution to the Wildfire organization. Find more information on UniSource’s payment assistance.
Organizations seeking funding, in-kind assistance and volunteers can learn how to request support online at uesaz.com/community. Learn more about our community involvement and donations.
