FirstEnergy Employees Rally to Support the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
With diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at the heart of our culture, FirstEnergy employees have a long history of supporting the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio and its initiatives to help create a more inclusive future for youth in communities where we work, live and serve.
The latest effort was the Diversity Center’s Walk, Rock, Roll and Run event that took place at the world-famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on May 7. Now in its 20th year, Walk, Rock, Roll and Run is the Diversity Center’s annual fundraising event where community members can participate in 1- or 3-mile walks or a 5K run.
Nearly 100 FirstEnergy employees, family members and friends came together to donate, walk, run or volunteer for the event. Collectively, with the help of matched contributions from FirstEnergy Foundation, FirstEnergy employees raised nearly $13,500 to support the Diversity Center, making the company the highest fundraiser of all workplace teams who participated in the event.
“We are so proud of our dedicated employees, family members and friends who went above and beyond to support the Diversity Center and its efforts to foster DEI, “said Laura Redenshek, director of Contractor/Public Safety and Analytics for FirstEnergy and member of the Diversity Center's executive leadership committee and board of directors.
The Diversity Center promotes understanding, respect and institutional equality on matters of race, age, religion, sex, ethnicity, culture, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. The center achieves this through youth programming and by promoting diversity and addressing institutional bias in the workplace.
“The Diversity Center is creating a space where people can talk about their experiences and work together to bring about change in the world,” said Maggie Myers, manager of FirstEnergy Utilities Process Improvement and graduate of the Diversity Center’s 10-month leadership development program, which analyzes the personal, workplace and community impact of diversity. “I’m honored to help support such a worthy cause.”
In total, the center raised more than $267,700 through the Walk, Rock, Roll and Run event. The funds raised will help the center offer learning programs and resources that will empower more than 10,000 youth and educators in 11 counties during the 2022-2023 academic year.
"The Diversity Center is proud to celebrate 20 years of empowering Northeast Ohio’s youth through Walk, Rock, Roll and Run. We are fortunate to have the longtime support of FirstEnergy and its employees, helping us achieve our mission of eliminating bias, bigotry and racism,” said Peggy Zone Fisher, president & CEO of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio. “Together, we are creating communities where all people are connected, respected and valued.”
Through the unwavering commitment of our employees and the FirstEnergy Foundation, we continue to find ways to foster an inclusive environment for our employees and the communities we’re proud to serve. To learn more about FirstEnergy’s DEI initiatives, visit www.firstenergycorp.com/diversity.
CONTACT: Joshua Duke, (330) 607-5018