In its second year, BGE’s grant program recognizes company’s long-standing support of and collaboration with emergency service organizations

BALTIMORE (Jan. 30, 2014) — In an effort to enhance safety, emergency preparedness and emergency response and recovery in its central Maryland service area, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) presented more than $350,000 in grants to 41 emergency response and safety organizations. In its second year, the Emergency Response and Safety Grant program, specifically designed to support emergency response and safety organizations, is part of BGE’s continued commitment to supporting safety and reliability while also enhancing the communities it serves. Today, BGE held a press conference at the American Red Cross Chesapeake Region Headquarters in Baltimore, where company officials presented the grants to representatives from these organizations. Grant monies will be used to fund equipment, programs or services that are critical to the safety of the communities BGE serves.

“BGE is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability for our employees, our customers and the communities in which we live and work, and naturally we have a strong appreciation for the critically important role the volunteer emergency response and safety organizations play throughout the state of Maryland,” said Calvin G. Butler Jr., senior vice president of regulatory and external affairs for BGE. “Through this grant program, we are pleased to continue our long-standing commitment and give back to our safety and emergency response organizations, who day in and day out, are poised to respond in times of need. BGE’s grant program gives us the unique opportunity to strengthen our relationships with our emergency responder colleagues, while also extending our commitment to safety to our customers. Teamed with career emergency responders, these organizations and their highly trained and dedicated personnel are second to none in ensuring the safety of Marylanders and BGE is proud to support them in their efforts.”

Also in attendance at today’s ceremony was Ken Mallette, Executive Director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). 

“BGE and its parent company, Exelon Corporation, are strong partners of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency throughout the year and it is my pleasure to extend MEMA’s support and gratitude for the BGE Emergency Response and Safety Grant Program. It is exciting to see so many nonprofit and voluntary entities receive the monetary support they so deserve for the hard work they do in our communities to prepare and protect our citizens. We truly believe organizations like today’s honorees are critical to the well-being of our communities.”

BGE launched the Emergency Response and Safety Grant program in early 2012 and has provided more than $670,000 to nearly 60 nonprofit organizations since the program’s inception. 

“BGE is also proud of our employees who, in 2013, logged more than 1,100 volunteer hours with safety and emergency response organizations, including volunteer fire, EMS organizations and the American Red Cross,” said Butler. “In addition, BGE offers complimentary electric and natural gas safety training to emergency responders through our White Marsh Utility Training Center. In 2013, BGE conducted nearly 20 electric hazard awareness demonstrations for 750 participants from various fire, police, EMS and county agencies. In addition, BGE’s natural gas operations and safety personnel conducted more than 30 natural gas safety demonstrations at fire houses across central Maryland for nearly 650 emergency responders. We are proud to support our local emergency responders and safety organizations both financially and through our commitment to safety.”

Following is a list of the organizations that received grants and the equipment and/or programs the grants are funding: 

Anne Arundel County:

• American Logistics Aid Network – Strengthening Maryland’s emergency response network 
• Arnold Volunteer Fire Department – CPR Outreach Program 
• Civil Air Patrol – Search and rescue equipment 
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation – Smoke and Carbon Dioxide Alarms 
• Odenton Volunteer Fire Company Inc. – Rescue and Tool Replacement Project 
• Orchard Beach Volunteer Fire Department – Thermal imaging cameras 

Baltimore City 

• American Red Cross – Emergency services

Baltimore County 

• Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department – Gas meters 
• Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department – New terrain vehicle
• Baltimore Amateur Radio Club – Emergency communication repairs 
• Baltimore County Police Foundation – Mobile communications project 
• Central Alarmers Incorporated – Rehabilitation unit and supplies
• Chesapeake Search and Rescue Dog Association – Communications equipment 
• Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department – Gas measurement system 
• Cockeysville Volunteer Fire Department – Response incentive support 
• Community Assistance Network – Emergency food pantry 
• Community Volunteer Fire Department of Bowleys Quarters – Marine Emergency Enhancement 
• Hereford Volunteer Ambulance Association – New AEDs and station generators 
• Hereford Volunteer Fire Department – Cistern repair
• Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Department – Air cascade 
• Kingsville Volunteer Fire Department – New fire department facility 
• Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Department – Replacement stretcher
• Lutherville Volunteer Fire Department – Carbon dioxide alarm and exposure response 
• Middle River Volunteer Fire Department – Thermal imaging cameras 
• Northpoint Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department – Marine fire rescue vessel 
• Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Department – High rise fire equipment 
• Pikesville Volunteer Fire Department – Rescue equipment upgrade 
• Providence Volunteer Fire Company – AED procurement
• Towson University – Basic life support kits 
• White Marsh Volunteer Fire Company – Thermal imaging camera

Carroll County 

• Hampstead Volunteer Fire Department – Turnout rack replacement 
• Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department – Utility 6 vehicle 
• Sykesville Freedom Fire Department – 400 smoke alarms

Harford County 

• Harford County Volunteer Fire Department – New EMS gear

Howard County 

• Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department – Rapid intervention pack

Prince George’s County 

• Bowie Volunteer Fire Department – Thermal imaging camera 
• Kentland Volunteer Fire Department – Thermal imaging camera 
• Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad – Technical Rescue Equipment 
• National Volunteer Fire Council – Firefighter training 
• Police Chiefs Association of Prince George’s County – Training seminar 
• Volunteer Fire Company of Laurel – Multi-gas meters

Since its founding nearly 200 years ago, BGE has played an integral role in working with Maryland communities to address public safety, economic development, civic issues and other initiatives that help enhance our neighborhoods. Through the use of shareholder dollars, BGE supports programs that deliver measurable and sustainable impact in areas of education, environment, community development and arts and culture.

BGE’s corporate citizenship aligns with that of its parent company, Exelon Corporation. As part of Exelon’s merger in March 2012, Exelon and its subsidiaries have committed to maintain charitable giving of an average of $7 million per year in Maryland, including BGE’s service area, for the next 10 years with a focus on the areas of education, arts and culture, the environment and community development. BGE’s commitment to the Emergency Response and Safety Grants program fulfills part of that commitment. For more information on the BGE Emergency Response and Safety Grants program, visit bge.com.

To view photos from the event, visit BGE’s Flickr site.