$25,000 FirstEnergy Foundation Grant to IM Able Supports Adaptive Fitness and Community Building

Donation is part of over $1 million granted by FirstEnergy Foundation in 2025

READING, Pa., July 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The FirstEnergy Foundation has donated $25,000 to the IM Able Foundation, a Berks County organization that provides physical activity and wellness programs for children, veterans and adults with disabilities. The group's efforts help meet the critical needs of customers served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary doing business in eastern Pennsylvania as Met-Ed.

John Hawkins, FirstEnergy President, Pennsylvania: "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 supports IM Able's Operation Lead from the Front initiative, which addresses the unique needs of military veterans as they transition to civilian life, particularly those who face challenges related to social isolation, loss of purpose and mental health issues. The initiative expands adaptive and inclusive fitness programming for 2,500 veteran and non-veteran clients, offering a broad range of outdoor activities such as skiing, ropes courses, fitness competitions, adventure challenges, rock climbing, kayaking and hiking.

The funding also supports enhanced training for veterans who are new to mentoring and coaching individuals with disabilities.      

Alex A. Pilkington, Chief Executive Officer, IM Able Foundation: "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. With this funding, we will help more veterans regain strength, build community and rediscover their purpose through movement. Together, we are changing lives – one repetition, one mile, one mission at a time."

Hawkins recently joined other Met-Ed employees at IM Able's adaptive gym, touring the facility and riding a modified, hand crank-propelled cycle tailored to riders with physical disabilities. Adaptive handcycles can cost as much as $20,000.

Watch a video about FirstEnergy's involvement with IM Able. Download photos of the FirstEnergy Foundation check presentation from Flickr.

About FirstEnergy Foundation

The FirstEnergy Foundation provides support to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits that serve and meet the critical needs of our customers in communities served by FirstEnergy's electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business.

FirstEnergy Foundation grants totaling nearly $1.1 million through June 2025 have supported a range of community needs, including hunger relief, youth education and disaster relief. Additionally, the employee-driven United Way Campaign generated more than $1 million this year. More than 800 organizations received direct donations, and 104 United Way agencies benefited from the company's matching contributions.

About IM Able

The mission of the IM ABLE Foundation is to include people living with physical, cognitive and/or behavioral challenges in the benefits of being physically active by providing grants for adaptive equipment and programming opportunities inclusive of people of all abilities. The IM ABLE Foundation started providing financial grants to individuals with challenges helping them to purchase expensive adaptive equipment. When it became clear that people with disabilities were excluded from participation in traditional fitness program opportunities, IM ABLE started hosting programming for people of all abilities to achieve both physical, mental, and social health. Learn more about IM Able here. 

About Met-Ed and FirstEnergy

Met-Ed serves approximately 592,000 customers within 3,300 square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Follow Met-Ed on X @Met Ed and on Facebook at facebook.com/MetEdElectric.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving over 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.