GAHANNA, Ohio, November 11, 2021 – AEP Ohio, an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, today announced that the American Electric Power Foundation has awarded a $200,000 grant to Zora’s House in Columbus. The gift is part of the foundation’s Delivering on the Dream: Social and Racial Justice grant program, which is a five-year, $5 million commitment to fund organizations with programs dedicated to advancing social and racial justice in communities American Electric Power serves.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion continue to be critical components of our company culture,” said Janelle Coleman, vice president, Community Engagement and Diversity, Inclusion, and president of the AEP Foundation. “The Delivering on the Dream grant program puts our words into action. AEP and its Foundation are proud to partner with organizations dedicated to empowering equity for our customers, neighbors and employees of color.”
Zora’s House opened in 2018 and is the only co-working and community space in Columbus dedicated to women of color. The grant will help fund full-time staff and further the mission to help these women connect, grow their talents and advance their leadership in the community.
“Zora’s House is a unique space that empowers women of color in Columbus by providing resources and opportunities to advance not only their careers, but also their dreams,” said Marc Reitter, president and chief operating officer of AEP Ohio, a subsidiary of AEP that provides funding to the AEP Foundation. “The women benefit from the opportunity to be a part of a supportive community while having their voices heard, and we are honored to help propel this initiative forward.”
"Zora's House is a grateful recipient of the AEP Foundation’s Delivering on the Dream grant,” said LC Johnson, chief executive officer and founder of Zora’s House. “This grant provides critical capacity building funds that will allow us to expand staffing, increase the reach of our high-impact programs and services, and ensure that Columbus is a community where the leadership, creativity, activism, and scholarship of women of color can thrive."
The other Ohio organizations to receive funds include Catholic Social Services and the YWCA in Columbus, and Community Legal Aid Services in Canton.
About the AEP Foundation
The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power and its operating subsidiaries. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area. The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math; by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger; and championing social and racial justice. Other foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, support healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and cultural heritage.
About AEP Ohio
?AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner, brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP’s approximately 16,700 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 5,900 megawatts of renewable energy. The company’s plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2030. AEP is on track to achieve an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 levels by 2030 and has committed to achieve net zero by 2050. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.