Xcel Energy is committed to bettering the communities they serve through volunteerism, charitable giving, and working with nonprofits. Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to partner with Xcel Energy to support our mission to inspire, ignite, and empower potential for the youth we serve.
Xcel Energy was recently named a World’s Most Admired Company for the seventh consecutive year by Fortune Magazine and continues to be a leader in transitioning to cleaner energy sources. Xcel Energy is the first major U.S. utility to announce a commitment to reducing carbon emissions by 80% (from 2005 levels) by 2030, with a vision of delivering 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.
Locally, the company has supported BBBSC with more than $400,000 in shareholder-funded grants from the Xcel Energy Foundation. Its employees give directly, too, in the form of volunteerism, employee contributions, corporate matching gifts, United Way campaigns, and event sponsorships.
Together, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado and Xcel Energy take a collaborative approach to enhance one-to-one mentoring with STEM education and STEM activities.
The company supports the STEM enhancement of our Team Big! Program, providing three to five STEM events throughout the year. We are especially grateful Xcel Energy was the inaugural sponsor of the BBBSC STEM Career Day in 2015 and has remained the event’s lead sponsor.
Nearly 40 matches attended the annual STEM Day this month, getting the chance to explore STEM activities that could spark potential career paths in the STEM field. Xcel Energy provided volunteers and created fun and educational activities including solar cars, circuit kits, and gumdrop bridges.
In September, Xcel Energy also sponsored our first Family Appreciation Day as part of the Xcel Day of Service. We had more than 60 family members attend the event where they decorated pots and planted seeds, played volleyball and lawn games, had lunch and connected with other families. We had family members of all ages attend and they enjoyed having a day of appreciation, fun, and community building. In addition to funding the event, Xcel volunteers helped with set up, running activity stations, and preparing all of the food.
Additionally, Xcel Energy leaders serve on the Board of Directors. They provide strategic direction and volunteer their time to ensure BBBSC one-to-one mentoring continues to impact children by improving sense of self and future, enhancing relationships, bettering attitudes toward school and academic performance, and helping kids avoid delinquent behavior. Xcel Energy employees also participate in annual agency events including our annual Gala, Topgolf for Kids’ Sake, and the Sanctuary Golf Classic that provide ongoing support of our mentoring programs.
We’d also like to extend special recognition to our Xcel Energy employees who dedicate their time as mentors, board members, and volunteers. Thank you for volunteering your time and energy with BBBSC:
- Jonathan Adelman, Board of Directors
- Wes Parham, Associate Board of Directors
- Ashly Ligouri, Associate Board of Directors
- Ray Huang, Sports Buddies Big Brother
- Mike Finkowski, Community Based Big Brother
- Stephanie Voss, Mentor 2.0 Big Sister
Thank you to Xcel Energy for your continued support of our Community Mentoring and STEM programming. We appreciate all you do for BBBSC!