Organizations will receive bi-annual endowments to fuel DEI initiatives
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), in partnership with its parent company’s NiSource Charitable Foundation, is delighted to announce the winners of its inaugural Bridging Our Energy Grant. Purdue University Northwest and Boys & Girls Club of Northern Indiana Corridor have each been awarded $100,000 each for strategic initiatives centered on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and economic inclusion programs.
Introduced in October, the Bridging Our Energy Grant received 46 applications from organizations across NIPSCO’s northern Indiana service area. Eligible organizations had to be a 501(c)3 as determined by the Internal Revenue Service with a DEI and/or economic inclusion program focus as well as a direct impact in NIPSCO’s service area. The Foundation will fund the grants for each organization with two annual installments of $50,000 in 2024 and 2025.
Purdue University Northwest will launch a diversity outreach and engagement program for its Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The program supports Dr. Arash Asrari's focus on power system resilience, smart grids and renewable energy. The Boys & Girls Club of Northern Indiana Corridor will debut an emotional well-being service program expansion to serve children in White, Pulaski, Fulton and Cass counties.
Vince Parisi, NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer, said there were many compelling initiatives proposed during the grant review process, and that the recipients were chosen for their ability to provide initiatives that empower future innovators to build a more inclusive, sustainable world.
“We believe this grant will amplify the tremendous work these two organizations are already doing, and we’re confident that the initiatives funded will have a lasting impact on our communities,” Parisi said.
The two other finalists for the Bridging Our Energy Grant, the YWCA Northeast Indiana and Amani Fort Wayne, will each receive $10,000 in recognition of their strong submissions.
For more information about NIPSCO’s Corporate Citizenship efforts, go to nipsco.com/givingback.
About NIPSCO:
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), with headquarters in Merrillville, Indiana, has proudly served the energy needs of northern Indiana for more than 100 years. As Indiana’s largest natural gas distribution company and the second-largest electric distribution company, NIPSCO serves approximately 900,000 natural gas and 500,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s (NYSE: NI) six regulated utility companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.8 million natural gas and electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. More information about NIPSCO and NiSource is available at NIPSCO.com and NiSource.com.
About the NiSource Charitable Foundation
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and serves as the charitable arm for NiSource Inc. and its companies operating under the NIPSCO and Columbia Gas brands. The Foundation’s mission is to create strong and sustainable communities where our employees and customers live and work. The Foundation lives up to its mission by providing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and by encouraging employee volunteerism. Learn more at www.NiSource.com/Foundation.