Caring for Communities
Whether near or far, AEP shows its community spirit through giving campaigns and volunteerism.
Some 145 AEP employees donated nearly $17,000 to fund COVID relief efforts in India through United Way India, a member of United Way Worldwide. The AEP Foundation matched all donations up to $100,000. According to United Way officials, the number of AEP employee donors was by far the largest number of donations, and the total amount given ranks as the second largest donation amount among the 57 companies participating.
Closer to home, AEP employees and retirees participated in the annual Making a Difference grant program to help nonprofit organizations through donations and volunteerism. In 2021, Public Service Company of Oklahoma employee volunteers designated grants of $300 each to Bridges Foundation, Iron Gate Trust and Sigma Oklahoma Foundation.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed technology deficiencies as businesses and schools transitioned from in-person to online commerce and learning. In Grayson County, VA. officials estimated about 57 percent of residents lacked access to a broadband connection. To improve the situation, Appalachian Power and internet service provider Gigabeam Networks worked with Meta (formerly Facebook) to bring fiber and broadband to about 6,000 unserved households in the rural Virginia county.