ARTICLE
Time is a gift. And in April, we salute those who give it. You see, April is National Volunteer Month. It’s a low-key month that you might not have heard too much about. It’s not the kind of event with parades and fireworks -- though, honestly, most people who give time to help their communities aren’t looking for attention anyway. Instead, it’s a more personal celebration. It’s a chance to thank people you know who give their time, and to appreciate the things they do. And, if you haven’t gotten involved, it may be a time for you to look into opportunities to help others. (No matter how tight your schedule is, or what causes you think are most important, organizations in this area would love to have your help.) Volunteering takes many forms. It can mean packing boxes at food banks, helping young children learn to read, leading a Scout troop, coaching a youth sports team, protecting a community as a member of a volunteer fire company, and so much more. Every gift of time makes a difference, regardless of the specific setting. I’m proud to know and work with people who are committed volunteers. People like Steve Gelatko, director-Distribution Asset Planning for PPL Electric Utilities, who serves as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley. These folks have challenging work responsibilities, but still make time to serve others. Volunteering isn’t the only way to support the community. Financial donations make a difference too, of course. At PPL, our employees and retirees raised more than $1.4 million this past year to support United Ways across central and eastern Pennsylvania. Matching funds given by PPL raised our campaign total to more than $2 million. Locally, the United Way of Bucks County will benefit from those gifts. These donations translate into real programs and services for people who need help every day in the communities we serve. Things like preschool literacy classes, programs that support healthy lifestyles, and services that help seniors stay in their homes. We’re proud of that support, but it’s only half the picture. It wouldn’t mean as much without personal commitment – the thousands of hours our employees give to support those agencies and other community groups. So, we take this month to salute our co-workers, neighbors and friends who volunteer. The places where we live and work are stronger as a result of their generosity. They deserve a parade. And fireworks.
Time is a gift. And in April, we salute those who give it.
You see, April is National Volunteer Month.
It’s a low-key month that you might not have heard too much about. It’s not the kind of event with parades and fireworks -- though, honestly, most people who give time to help their communities aren’t looking for attention anyway.
Instead, it’s a more personal celebration. It’s a chance to thank people you know who give their time, and to appreciate the things they do.
And, if you haven’t gotten involved, it may be a time for you to look into opportunities to help others. (No matter how tight your schedule is, or what causes you think are most important, organizations in this area would love to have your help.)
Volunteering takes many forms. It can mean packing boxes at food banks, helping young children learn to read, leading a Scout troop, coaching a youth sports team, protecting a community as a member of a volunteer fire company, and so much more. Every gift of time makes a difference, regardless of the specific setting.
I’m proud to know and work with people who are committed volunteers. People like Steve Gelatko, director-Distribution Asset Planning for PPL Electric Utilities, who serves as a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley. These folks have challenging work responsibilities, but still make time to serve others.
Volunteering isn’t the only way to support the community. Financial donations make a difference too, of course.
At PPL, our employees and retirees raised more than $1.4 million this past year to support United Ways across central and eastern Pennsylvania. Matching funds given by PPL raised our campaign total to more than $2 million. Locally, the United Way of Bucks County will benefit from those gifts.
These donations translate into real programs and services for people who need help every day in the communities we serve. Things like preschool literacy classes, programs that support healthy lifestyles, and services that help seniors stay in their homes.
We’re proud of that support, but it’s only half the picture. It wouldn’t mean as much without personal commitment – the thousands of hours our employees give to support those agencies and other community groups.
So, we take this month to salute our co-workers, neighbors and friends who volunteer. The places where we live and work are stronger as a result of their generosity.
They deserve a parade. And fireworks.