Sioux Falls, South Dakota (May 18, 2020) – Xcel Energy announced today a donation totaling $10,000 to two South Dakota funds that help protect frontline healthcare workers. The Sanford Emerging Threats Fund and Avera Heroes Fund will each receive a donation of $5,000.
“We want to thank and support the organizations and healthcare heroes who are working to keep our communities safe during this challenging time” said Steve Kolbeck, principal manager, Xcel Energy-South Dakota. “We’ve always been involved with the health care community in Sioux Falls and contributing to these funds is one way we can help safeguard our area medical professionals and support our community’s response.”
The Sandford Emerging Threat Fund (external link) helps ensure that Sanford has the resources necessary to swiftly detect, prevent, treat and eradicate health care threats, like the COVID-19 outbreak. For example, funds could be used to help offset rising personal protective equipment (PPE), and provide direct assistance to frontline caregivers. The Avera Heroes Fund (external link) supports those working on the front line, and the patients and families they serve.
In addition to the donations, last week about 50 Xcel Energy employees from the Sioux Falls service center gathered outside Avera McKennan and Sanford hospitals to thank the healthcare workers and first responders. Banners with messages of support hung from bucket trucks and employees lined the sidewalks to applaud the workers who were arriving to start their day or just finishing their shift.
Last month, Xcel Energy also announced that net proceeds from the sale of the Mankato Energy Center, expected to be more than $20 million, will support short-term and long-term corporate giving, including COVID-19 relief in all of the communities we serve. Xcel Energy serves communities in Minnesota, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Michigan.
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About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About the Xcel Energy Foundation
The Xcel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that awards charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and sponsors the volunteer programs of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries. The majority of Xcel Energy Foundation funding comes from Xcel Energy shareholder dollars. In 2018, the Foundation granted nearly $4 million to nonprofit organizations for programs that aligned with its four focus areas of education, economic sustainability, environmental stewardship and access to arts and culture. Additionally, the Foundation distributed nearly $3 million to match the donations and volunteer hours that employees contributed to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit https://www.xcelenergy.com/community/focus_area_grants.