Commitment brings company’s annual community giving to more than $8 million
KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2020--
Evergy (NYSE: EVRG) is committing $2.2 million to help agencies, communities and customers respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing its 2020 planned community giving to more than $8 million.
“We know our communities and customers are dealing with nearly unprecedented uncertainties due to this virus,” said Terry Bassham, Evergy President and CEO. “We are making the largest focused charitable commitment in our history. We’ve been serving these communities nearly 150 years, and we want to do our part to help them move forward.”
Emergency grants help non-profit agencies leading response
Evergy Emergency Grants help non-profit agencies on the front lines that have remained open and are delivering essential services to its communities. Eligible agencies align with Evergy’s focus areas of community vitality and environmental leadership, have continued to provide most if not all of their services and have had their costs increase and revenues reduced due to the pandemic. Evergy has pledged $400,000 and already has awarded grants to multiple agencies. For eligibility and application requirements, visit www.evergy.com/covid19.
Hometown Economic Recovery Program helps small businesses, communities
Evergy’s Hometown Economic Recovery Program focuses on efforts in Evergy communities that will help build back our local economies. Areas of eligibility include small business needs, business attraction and retention, and workforce training and development. Evergy will award grants totaling $800,000 in two phases. Applications for the initial phase begin June 1 with awards made in August. On June 1, nonprofit agencies can visit Evergy Hometown Recovery Grant for criteria and the application. The second phase opens in August with awards made in October. As part of this effort, Evergy will also invest in two small business loan funds, Network Kansas and the GKC COVID Small Business Relief Fund. Eligibility and application requirements will be available at www.evergy.com/covid19.
Additionally, Evergy will provide a new economic development tool SizeUp to help local communities develop and nurture new and expanding businesses.
$1 million assists customers with energy payments
Expanding on its flexible pay arrangements for residential and small business customers, Evergy is committing up to $1,000,000 to Dollar Aide, Project Deserve and other programs that assist customers with energy payments. For more information, visit www.evergy.com/covid19.
On May 5 as part of Giving Tuesday Now, Evergy matched employee giving $2 to $1, generating nearly $150,000 in donations for area organizations. “Our employees are always eager to step forward to help our communities when in need,” said Bassham. “This time is no different with employees again going above and beyond to help our customers and communities.”
The $2.2 million in COVID-19 focused funding is in addition to Evergy’s $6 million annual giving to agencies and organizations throughout the communities it serves. Evergy focuses its giving to agencies that support community vitality and environmental leadership.
About Evergy, Inc.
Evergy, Inc. (NYSE: EVRG) serves approximately 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri. We were formed in 2018 when long-term local energy providers KCP&L and Westar Energy merged. We generate nearly half the power we provide to homes and businesses with emission-free sources. We support our local communities where we live and work, and strive to meet the needs of customers through energy savings and innovative solutions.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200519005300/en/
Media contact:
Gina Penzig
Manager, External Communications
785-575-8089
Gina.penzig@evergy.com
Media line: 888-613-0003
Investor contact:
Cody VandeVelde
Director, Investor Relations
785-575-8227
Cody.vandevelde@evergy.com
Source: Evergy, Inc.
