READING, Pa., July 9, 2025 -- The FirstEnergy Foundation has made a donation of $25,000 to the IM Able Foundation. This organization in Berks County focuses on providing physical activity and wellness programs for children, veterans, and adults with disabilities. Their efforts are aimed at meeting the needs of customers served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.
John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, stated: "Through the FirstEnergy Foundation, we've granted over $1 million in the first half of 2025 to enhance community wellbeing through organizations like IM Able. The Met-Ed team is excited to volunteer with IM Able to bring their programming to life – it's all about having fun, fostering community and building confidence through engaging physical activity."
The grant will support IM Able's Operation Lead from the Front initiative. This program addresses the specific needs of military veterans transitioning to civilian life. It focuses on challenges such as social isolation and mental health issues. The initiative offers adaptive fitness programming for 2,500 clients including veterans and non-veterans. Activities include skiing, ropes courses, fitness competitions, adventure challenges, rock climbing, kayaking, and hiking.
Additionally, the funding will enhance training for veterans who are new mentors or coaches for individuals with disabilities.
Alex A. Pilkington, CEO of IM Able Foundation expressed gratitude: "We are incredibly grateful to the FirstEnergy Foundation for its generous support of our Operation Lead from the Front veteran program. This $25,000 grant will directly empower veterans with physical, cognitive and behavioral disabilities by expanding access to adaptive fitness, wellness coaching and peer mentorship."
Hawkins recently visited IM Able's adaptive gym along with other Met-Ed employees. During this visit he experienced riding a modified hand crank-propelled cycle designed for riders with physical disabilities.
For more information about FirstEnergy's involvement with IM Able or photos from the check presentation visit Flickr.
The FirstEnergy Foundation supports tax-exempt nonprofits that meet critical customer needs in communities served by its electric companies. Grants totaling nearly $1.1 million have been provided through June 2025 addressing various community needs such as hunger relief and youth education.
IM ABLE aims to include people living with challenges in physical activities by providing grants for adaptive equipment among other initiatives.
Met-Ed serves around 592 thousand customers across eastern Pennsylvania while FirstEnergy operates one of America’s largest investor-owned electric systems serving over six million customers across multiple states.
CONTACT: News Media Contact: Todd Meyers (724) 838-6650; Investor Contact: Karen Sagot (330) 761-4286