Largest Grant Funds Pilot Education Project to Begin in Texas

Beaumont, Texas – More than 50 nonprofit groups have been awarded approximately $1.3 million in grants from the Entergy Charitable Foundation, including one funding a new initiative to educate children about climate change. Groups in the Entergy Texas, Inc. service area received $117,700 in funding.

More than $900,000 of the grants went to various education programs in seven states served by Entergy Corporation businesses. The largest single grant was a $292,100 award to the National Wildlife Federation to help fund a two-year pilot program for schools in the Entergy service territory that will teach students about energy and climate science. The first phase of the program will begin next fall in Texas. Participating school districts will be selected within the next few months. The pilot, which will cover students from kindergarten through high school, could serve as a model for other school systems across the nation.

“We are heading into what almost certainly will be a carbon-constrained future, and our children need to understand and be prepared for the changes it will demand. This pilot program will offer a balanced and effective approach to educating students about energy and the changing climate,” said Patty Riddlebarger, director of corporate social responsibility at Entergy. “We hope it will spark interest in the physical sciences as well as help prepare students for jobs in the ‘green economy’ of the future.”

Susan Kaderka, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s South Central Region said, “We applaud Entergy for investing in this effort to prepare our children for a new energy future. This project will greatly enrich NWF’s new Eco-Schools USA program, which is helping teachers, students, parents and administrators across the country transform their schools into energy efficient and environmentally sustainable communities.”

Other grant recipients, the amounts awarded and their projects include:

• Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, $5,000. “Sedrick Huckaby: Big Momma’s House,” An exhibition with Sedrick Huckaby scheduled for October 2010.

• Bremond Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization, Bremond, $2,700. “No Child Left Behind,” a book bingo night that provides every student with a book to take home.

• CHRISTUS Health Foundation of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, $5,000. CHRISTUS 30th anniversary fundraiser to benefit hospitals in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Jasper.

• Environmental Institute of Houston at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, $5,000. “Texas Environthon Statewide Competition,” in which high school students compete in areas of environmental testing.

• Habitat for Humanity, Jefferson County, $5,000. Port Arthur house build.

• Huntsville Education Foundation, Huntsville, $1,000. Teacher Enrichment Fund to provide funds for imaginative and innovative programs and projects.

• Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, Beaumont, $6,000. Camp Bright Star, a summer program to help children in reading, goal-setting and other important areas.

• JA Worldwide, Beaumont, $2,500. “Financial Literacy: Reality Check Finance Park Style.” Finance Park is a mobile financial literacy unit to teach students about making wise financial decisions.

• Jefferson County Bar Association, Beaumont, $2,500. “Spindletop Spin Annual Cycling Event,” to raise funds for the association’s support of educational programs for at-risk youth.

• Montgomery County Emergency Assistance, Conroe, $5,000. “2010 Great Red, White & Blue Duck Race,” to raise funds to support the organization’s mission.

• Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission, Beaumont, $15,000. 2-1-1 Southeast Texas Mass Awareness Campaign, Spring 2010, an education outreach to link residents to services. Also, $1,000 for “Experience Corps SE Texas 3rd Annual Walk-a-Thon,” designed to raise awareness and support for a program in which senior citizens tutor elementary school students.

• Stable-Spirit, Beaumont, $1,000. “Therapeutic Life Skills Development Program,” provides financial assistance for therapeutic and life skills development for children and adults at or below poverty level in Jefferson County.

• Tamina County Center, Conroe, $1,000. “Spruce up for Summer,” provides day care, before and after school care and other services for students.

• Woodlands Center for the Performing Arts, The Woodlands, $5,000. “Musical Scores,” a reward program for at-risk students for their accomplishments throughout the school year.

The Entergy Charitable Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation wholly funded by Entergy Corporation. The goal of the foundation is to support initiatives that help create and sustain thriving communities. ECF has a special focus on low-income initiatives as well as educational and literacy programs and efforts to protect the environment. The ECF accepts applications three times per year. For more information or to access an application form from the Entergy Charitable Foundation, look under “Our Community/Corporate and Foundation Giving” at www.entergy.com.

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 400,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy 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, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and more than 15,000 employees.

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