2016 was another year of great partnerships with numerous charitable organizations across our service area through our employee and company charitable giving and volunteerism. We look forward to the opportunities 2017 holds to further strengthen those partnerships and make our communities even better places to live and work. GIVING BACK At NIPSCO, giving back to the communities we serve is a fundamental part of our culture. Every year, our employees support and donate to a range of local organizations that are making a difference across our service area with a focus on: Basic Human Needs Economic Development Education Environmental Stewardship Public Safety & Emergency Response Violet Sistovaris, Executive Vice President and President NIPSCO $1.7 Million * Donated in 2016 Across 30 Counties
2016 CHARITY OF CHOICE Employees announce how much was raised for 2016's Charity of Choice: the American Cancer Society One of NIPSCO's key giving programs is called Charity of Choice, which was created to help maximize our financial and volunteer impact in our communities. Each year, employees select one nonprofit organization or an area of need to support, for which fundraisers and other activities are planned.
Through the Dollars for Doers Program supported by the NiSource Charitable Foundation, our employees translate their community service into financial support for organizations they care about most. The program contributes up to $500 per employee to an organization in return for volunteer time. CONTRIBUTED IN 2016: 8,384 hours $167,680 VOLUNTEERING Employees and their families volunteering at Community Harvest Food Bank (Fort Wayne) and the Pax Center (La Porte) this year.
EDUCATION KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE South Bend emergency responders pictured with NIPSCO employees at an annual natural gas emergency drill. The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana learn about electrical safety at our annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, which promotes STEM education, at the NiSource headquarters in Merrillville.
NIPSCO Customer Care Representatives in the Merrillville call center.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP 398 trees planted in 33 different communities across our service territory With a focus on being a cleaner, more efficient energy provider, we pride ourselves in providing and supporting local environmental organizations and initiatives across Indiana. In 2016, we formed a new environmental grant program, awarding a total of $50,000 to assist in restoration and education projects throughout northern Indiana. A few of those recipients include: of Robinson Lake Friends Dunes Learning Center Wawasee Area Conservancy Martin Luther King MontessoriFoundation School
HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Each holiday season, there is an additional boost in employee involvement and fundraising. We localize and tailor giving to help meet specific community needs across our entire service area. Our Hope for the Holidays campaign is aimed to brighten the spirits of families who are going through difficult times. $126,000 Raised/Donated 760 Toys Donated NIPSCO's EVP and President, Violet Sistovaris, presenting $10,000 to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to purchase food for those in need during the holidays. NIPSCO employees assembling bikes to be given to the Ark Shelter for Women and Children in Gary and the Boys & Girls Club of Michigan City.
ENERGY ASSISTANCE $1.1 Million * in Bill Payment Assistance Helping 25,000 Customers *Includes funds directly from NIPSCO through the NIPSCO Customer Assistance for Residential Energy (CARE) Program and the NIPSCO Hardship Program. Across its service area, NIPSCO supports five Community Advisory Panels (CAPs), made up of diverse community members who serve as a sounding board for community and customer improvements. In recognition of the value these groups provide in keeping NIPSCO connected with our communities, we make annual contributions to a charity of choice for each member. In 2016, NIPSCO contributed $13,700 to 110 charitable organizations on behalf of our CAP members. Since the program's origination in 2004, more than $143,000 has been donated to 305 organizations on their behalf.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT By partnering with community leaders and state, regional and local economic development organizations, we re working to attract new businesses and support the expansion of existing businesses while helping to create more jobs across the area. We invest over $1 million annually in economic development efforts, which has resulted in 75 new businesses or expansions and 8,300 local jobs in the last 10 years. Additionally, the investments we re making to modernize and upgrade our energy infrastructure continue to have a positive, direct impact on the economy. $154.4 Million in direct spend in Indiana $30.2 Million in diverse spend in Indiana 3,319 NIPSCO and NiSource employees supporting the local economy Students interested in Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana's natural gas program, developed through our educational partnership, take a tour of NIPSCO's Training Center in La Porte.
To learn more about our community giving, visit NIPSCO.com/Community * Includes $320,000 from the NiSource Charitable Foundation.