Entergy Donates $300,000 to BRAF Flood Relief Fund

09/19/2016

CONTACT

(Foundation) Mukul Verma
225-362-9260
mverma@braf.org

(Entergy) Michael Burns
504-576-4132
mburns@entergy.com

Donation will be quickly granted to nonprofits responding to historic flooding

Entergy Corporation has contributed $300,000 to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Louisiana Flood Relief Fund, which will be granted by the Foundation to local nonprofits that are responding to the biggest rainstorm in modern Louisiana history.

“We are grateful for Entergy’s gift to South Louisiana,” said John G. Davies, CEO and president of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “The need is great, and this contribution will fund nonprofits that are filling gaps in relief and recovery.”

Four days of torrential rain produced massive flooding across South Louisiana. Places that had never flooded before went underwater. The deluge flooded and damaged more than 150,000 homes. Companies and people from across the country have provided millions in support to the residents of Louisiana. And people who live here have come together to help out each other.

“Before the flood waters had even begun to recede, our employees began asking what they could do to help. We began leveraging community partnerships, identifying opportunities and taking actions that we know power lives in times of greatest need,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “Resiliency is in our DNA. Time after time, our employees, customers, communities and company are tested by severe weather events. We know how to prepare and then bounce back. But it takes us all working together to be successful.”

The Foundation established the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund earlier this year to help people after the spring flooding in North Louisiana. It was opened with a $100,000 gift from the Foundation’s assets. Since then, the Foundation has raised more than $3.5 million for the charitable fund. More than 20 grants have been made to local nonprofits, including the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul, Together Baton Rouge, Alzheimer’s Services, Ascension Parish School System, Rebuilding Together Baton Rouge and Unlocking Autism Baton Rouge.

In turn, the nonprofits are providing immediate relief, such as feeding people and cleaning and preparing houses so families can go back home. Funds from the Foundation also have supported children with special needs, assisted in moving and reopening schools and establishing innovative processes to speed disaster recovery.

Donations to the Louisiana Flood Relief Fund can be made online at BRAF.org. Contributions to the fund are tax deductible.

About the Foundation: The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is among the largest community foundations in the country. We work in two ways to improve the lives of people across South Louisiana. One, we serve philanthropists, helping them pursue the causes they care about. Two, we take on projects for civic good. The Foundation and its fund donors have granted more than $400 million to nonprofits over more than five decades. Our projects include rebuilding inner city neighborhoods, reviving downtown Baton Rouge, improving health care services, improving education and the quality of life. The Foundation also supports local nonprofits with strategic consulting services.

About Entergy Corporation: Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.