NEWS & EVENTS
National Fuel Funds Network's
2011 Annual Report
NFFN Board Welcomes Two New Members
The National Fuel Funds Network welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors at its annual membership meeting in San Diego. The new members are Susan Sherer, Chief Executive Officer of The Heat and Warmth Fund and Albert Dudley, Executive Director of the United Services
Community Action Agency.
As executive director of THAW, Ms. Sherer leads statewide non-profit organization that provides emergency utility assistance to Michigan residents in need. Since it started in 1985, THAW has distributed more than $110 million in assistance to more than 160,000 Michigan households. Last year THAW distributed $8.6 million in energy assistance to 9,000 Michigan households.
Ms. Sherer is deeply involved in many aspects of her community serving as a Michigan Tourism Commissioner, a member of the DTE Community Advisory Council and the HAP Community Advisory Council.
The other new member of the Board of Directors, Albert Dudley, oversees the operations of community action agency that serves low income residents in Jackson, Clay and Platte Counties in Missouri. Mr. Dudley is based in Kansas City, MO.
A native of Nashville, TN, Mr. Dudley has more than 25 years of experience in managing and leading non-profit organizations. He has managed hospitals and church entities in the mid-western, southern and Mid-Atlantic States.Before joining the United Services Community Action Agency, Mr. Dudley was administrative director at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee, MO.
NFFN’s Highest Honor Presented to Joseph Guarinello of HeartShare Human Services
Joseph Guarinello of HeartShare Human Services has been
named the recipient of the National Fuel Funds Network’s highest honor, the Sister Pat Kelley Achievement Award. Guarinello was recognized for his more than 30 years of service to his community and the NFFN.
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Joseph Guarinello of HeartShare Human Services (right) accepts the NFFN's highest honor, the Sister Pat Kelley Award, from NFFN Board
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The awards to Guarinello and two other NFFN member organizations were presented during the National Energy and Utility Affordability Conference in San Diego in June. The National Fuel Funds Network annually recognizes the accomplishments, achievements, and innovations of its members.
Guarinello has been played a vital role in helping low income residents in the New York City area since 1980. A man of incredible compassion and commitment, Mr. Guarinello created and developed the Energy and Community Development department at HeartShare Human Services and helped National Grid and Consolidated Edison set up their energy assistance programs.
Last year, after Hurricane Sandy devastated New York City, National Grid again turned to Mr. Guarinello for help in distributing over $10 million in aid to residents of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas received the Victorine Q. Adams Award for its innovative outreach program to underserved clients in rural areas of the state. In June, 2012, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas launched its “resource bus,” a mobile assistance center manned by a professional case worker that provides clients with an array of services ranging from funds for direct financial assistance with rent/mortgage, utilities, and prescriptions to assistance applying for available support including SNAP, SSI, Medicare and Medicaid.
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Kim Brabits of Catholic Charities poses with Dan Alderson of Atmos Energy.
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The “resource” bus was donated by Atmos Energy and the project has signed up more than 1000 new clients in less than one year of operation.
The 2013 recipient of the NFFN’s Corporate Excellence Award is Florida Power and Light. Since 1994, the investor owned utility, in partnership with local social service agencies including the Salvation Army’s Florida Division Headquarters, has provided more than 71,000 Florida households with crisis assistance, paying more than $17.1 million to those in need through its Care to Share program.
Over the years, FPL has developed several programs to aid the low income and senior residents of their service area. These programs and services are designed to help people through crisis and make it easier to receive much needed aid.
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Louis Gonzalez of Florida Power and Light (left) accepts the ward from NFFN Board Vice Chair John Rich.
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