INDIAN RIVER COUNTY (April 7, 2020) – United Way of Indian River County is committed to ensuring that residents in the Indian River area have access to basic needs and critical community services during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization has established the COVID-19 Community Response Fund and is pleased to announce that Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), through the NextEra Energy Foundation, is gifting the nonprofit $10,000. The funds are part of a more than $2 million gift of COVID-19 emergency assistance from the NextEra Energy family of companies for partner organizations across the country and funds made available through FPL’s Care to Share program.
“As the coronavirus is impacting some of our community’s most vulnerable populations, it is more important than ever that the United Way of Indian River County is able to deliver basic needs assistance to those suffering from hardships,” said Michael Kint, CEO, United Way of Indian River County. “We are incredibly grateful for the partnership of FPL, which continues to give back to the communities it serves through the support of organizations like ours.”
The United Way of Indian River County will use the donation to provide flexible resources to organizations in the region working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the economic consequences of this outbreak. Grants will fund organizations that have deep roots in the community and strong experience working with under resourced residents.
FPL is also making contributions to additional United Way chapters and affiliated community partners across its service area. The emergency funds provided by the NextEra Energy Foundation will be distributed to organizations working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis to provide critical support to the most vulnerable members of our communities.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, we are committed to assisting the most vulnerable in our communities as we all work through this unsettling and difficult time together,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. “Floridians are no strangers to overcoming difficult crises and I’m confident that, together with partners like United Way of Indian River County, we will become even stronger from our current challenges. And through it all, we
remain focused on delivering the affordable, reliable power our customers have come to count on.”
For customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19, FPL has resources available at www.FPL.com/Help, or we can connect customers with resources available from federal, state and local authorities. To further assist customers, FPL is also suspending disconnections, providing payment extensions and waiving certain late payment fees for customers in a hardship situation.
United Way of Indian River County (UWIRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every community member. United Way works with local programs to provide resources to individuals and families in crisis today, while working year-round to improve community conditions and create lasting solutions. We are effectively building a strong foundation and improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. For more information about your local United Way, please call (772) 567-8900 or visit our website, UnitedWayIRC.org.
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