FirstEnergy Foundation Supersizes United Way of Berks County "Big Cheese" Event with $100,000 Grant
READING, Pa., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A $100,000 grant from The FirstEnergy Foundation to the United Way of Berks County's annual Big Cheese event is helping nourish children and adults facing food insecurity.
John Hawkins, FirstEnergy President, Pennsylvania: "Our employees show up year after year to support the United Way of Berks County's Big Cheese event – and this year we wanted to do even more. To honor United Way's 100th anniversary, the FirstEnergy Foundation contributed a $100,000 grant, helping to provide an incredible 500,000 meals to children and families facing food insecurity. That's double the number of meals from last year. It's a powerful way to strengthen the health and well-being of our communities, and we're proud to be part of it."
The recent event took place at Penn State's Berks Campus gymnasium, where 1,000 volunteers assembled meal packages with macaroni and cheese, rice and beans and flavored oatmeal. Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank and other local food banks distributed the packaged meals, including to the Reading School District for students and their families.
Fighting Hunger, Fueling Futures
Insufficient nutrition impairs children's development, while chronic hunger causes ongoing stress and anxiety for families uncertain about their next meal. In Berks County, one in five residents are food insecure – 25,000 of whom are children. More than three in five local school-aged children qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches.
Tammy White, President of the United Way of Berks County: "We are deeply grateful for the FirstEnergy Foundation's generous support of our 100th Anniversary BIGGER Big Cheese volunteer event, helping ensure that families in need across Berks County have access to nutritious meals. This partnership has a long history and is rooted in community spirit and impact. Met-Ed volunteers stepped up in a big way— by rolling up their sleeves to assist with event setup and to help package thousands of shelf-stable meals."
FirstEnergy Foundation Strengthens Communities
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 Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business. Through the first half of 2025, the FirstEnergy Foundation has granted nearly $2 million to support initiatives like the Big Cheese.
Watch a video about the Big Cheese. Download event photos from Flickr.
About the United Way of Berks County
Remaining true to the founding spirit of 1925, United Way brings together donors, volunteers, and partners to create help, hope, and opportunity. This collective effort addresses the community's most pressing challenges and supports those in need. United Way leverages its leadership and expertise to drive initiatives in education, literacy, food security, workforce development, and more—helping Berks County thrive. As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we extend heartfelt gratitude to our donors, partners, and the community for their unwavering support. Together, we ensure Berks County remains strong for generations to come. Learn more about the United Way of Berks County and its centennial celebration here.
About Met-Ed and FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), known in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania as Met-Ed, serves approximately 592,000 customers across 3,300 square miles. 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.
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