FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                         Wednesday, October 11, 2023

JOHNSON CITY – BrightRidge and the Tennessee Valley Authority joined together Tuesday afternoon to donate $82,500 to the Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County to expand a STEM lab with a 48-student waiting list.

“We are pleased to be able to provide this donation, eliminating a waiting list at the Boys & Girls Club for an after-school Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) lab,” BrightRidge CEO Jeff Dykes said. “These young folks are the future workforce of our region, and a solid background in STEM education will give these young people a strong opportunity for success in their future careers.”

Donated under TVA’s Community Care Fund program, TVA and BrightRidge matched donations to provide the funding. Locally, TVA and BrightRidge have donated $352,500 to the region. Throughout its seven-state service area, TVA has donated a total of $11.2 million since 2020.

“BrightRidge has a long and dedicated history of outstanding community service, and their participation in the Community Care Fund is one of many examples of how they step up to help those in need,” said TVA’s Executive Vice President, Chief External Relations Officer Jeannette Mills. “TVA is proud to amplify their support of deserving organizations, as we work together to make life better for the people we serve.”

Designed to close the opportunity gap in STEM, the Boys & Girls Club offers innovative and creative STEM programming during its after-school activities. In addition to expanding the learning lab and eliminating a waiting list, the funding will also assist in expanding the existing curriculum. The program is offered to club members ages 5 – 18 during the school year.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity to provide much needed STEM education to our members and improve workforce development in our community,” said Robin Crumley, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County. “This will allow our members to get excited about their futures and develop applicable real-world skills to help them explore opportunities in STEM related careers that might not otherwise be available to them. We are grateful to BrightRidge and TVA for their investment in our youth and our community.”

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ABOUT BRIGHTRIDGE

BrightRidge is the leading provider of publicly owned electric and broadband services in the region, serving 82,892 customers in Sullivan, Washington, Greene and Carter counties. With a fundamental focus on affordability, customer satisfaction, innovation, and community development, BrightRidge is committed to delivering reliable high-speed services to its customers. Learn more at www.BrightRidge.com.

ABOUT TVA

The Tennessee Valley Authority is the nation’s largest public power supplier, delivering energy to 10 million people across seven southeastern states. TVA was established 90 years ago to serve this region and the nation by developing innovative solutions to solve complex challenges. TVA’s unique mission focuses on energy, environmental stewardship, and economic development. With one of the largest, most diverse, and cleanest energy systems – including nuclear, hydro, solar, gas, and advanced technologies – TVA is a leader in our nation’s drive toward a clean energy future.

 ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

Since 1944, Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County has been providing area youth with a safe place to learn and grow after school, during breaks and over the summer. More than 5200 Clubs across the world serve 3.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Our highly trained, caring staff provides the skill sets needed for successful implementation of over 25 high-quality, structured programs promoting character and leadership development, academic success, and healthy lifestyles for all who attend. Learn more about Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County at www.gokidz.org or on Facebook.