BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In honor and remembrance of the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 200 volunteers from seven of the Baltimore area’s largest employers and corporate philanthropists teamed up today for the third annual ‘Together We Serve’ Day of Service in the Johnston Square neighborhood of Baltimore City. The effort is part of an ongoing neighborhood revitalization initiative led by The 6th Branch, a veteran-led, nonprofit organization that uses the leadership and organizational skills of military veterans to execute aggressive community service initiatives at the local level.
Volunteers from BGE, CareFirst, Constellation, Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, Transamerica and Under Armour spent the day in the Johnston Square community – an area struggling with poverty, neglect, vacant homes and a lack of recreational space for children – building flower boxes and picnic tables, mulching trees along neighborhood streets, painting and maintaining play areas for children at the Johnston Square Elementary School, and cleaning up three community lots to clear the way for neighborhood gardens as part of a larger effort to improve quality of life and access to healthy food for residents in the community. Classic Catering served as the catering sponsor, donating boxed lunches and water to all volunteers and participants in support of the National 9/11 Day of Service.
“BGE understands the importance of supporting nonprofit organizations like The 6th Branch, who are continuing their service to their country by now serving their community,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., chief executive officer for BGE. “The hard work and sweat that the volunteers have put into this community is truly a testament to the commitment to honor and recognize those who have served and to give back to them on this important day.”
Thanks to the efforts of The 6th Branch, community partner Rebuild Johnston Square, and their volunteers, the Johnston Square neighborhood has seen significant revitalization in recent years. In addition to the external improvements made at Ambrose Kennedy Park and Johnston Square Elementary School, a new concept has emerged with the guidance of Principal Raymond Braxton. This year, roughly 25 volunteers will spend the day transforming an empty classroom into a “parent’s room” – a site where parents of students will be able to take classes that include resume-building and financial literacy. The room will be outfitted with computers, chairs, desks and a printer.
As part of its commitment to building strong communities in central Maryland, BGE supports initiatives like the National 9/11 Day of Service. In 2013 alone, BGE employees, friends and family logged more than 25,000 hours volunteering with more than 135 different community organizations. Equivalent to 12 years of full-time service, these volunteer efforts offer BGE’s nonprofit partners the opportunity to reinvest resources and better serve communities throughout central Maryland.
Since its founding nearly 200 years ago, BGE has played an integral role in working with Maryland communities to address economic development, public safety, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in areas of energy efficiency and assistance, the environment, education, economic and community development, and emergency response and safety.
BGE’s corporate citizenship aligns with that of its parent company, Exelon Corporation. As part of Exelon’s merger in March 2012, Exelon and its subsidiaries have committed to maintain charitable giving of an average of $7 million per year in Maryland, including BGE’s service area, for the next 10 years.
To view photos from the event, visit BGE’s Flickr site at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mybge/. To learn more about BGE’s commitment to philanthropic giving and volunteerism, visit bge.com/giving.
About BGE:
BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2012 revenues of approximately $23.5 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
