Renewable energy company Drax has announced that three U.S. non-profits will receive $249,990 as part of the Drax Foundation’s latest round of donations. The non-profits receiving the donations are the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s (SFI) Project Learning Tree (PLT), and Southern University’s Bayou Summer Program. $99,990 will help Project Learning Tree continue their work in providing professional development that grows environmental education opportunities.
“SFI is honored to receive this generous grant from the Drax Foundation. Building on the success of our 2024 partnership, this year’s project will deepen our impact by expanding educator training and green career exploration in Drax communities,” says Rocco Saracina, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). “This work not only supports rural and under-resourced schools, but also helps students see themselves as future forest sector leaders.”
PLT will work with Drax and other sponsors to train over 300 educators, providing free, high-quality environmental education resources, ultimately reaching more than 33,000 students. The Drax Foundation previously awarded PLT $60,000.
“This expanded support from the Drax Foundation arrives at a pivotal moment for SFI’s education strategy,” says Josh Brankman, Vice President of Education, SFI and team lead for PLT. “Our vision prioritizes growing the forest and conservation sector workforce by integrating forest literacy and career pathways into academic systems. The Drax-funded initiative directly advances these goals and exemplifies how strong partnerships can drive systemic change in environmental-STEM education.”
The Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability, which received $100,000, is an Alabama-based nonprofit that was established in 2018 to bring new environmental programs and facilities to the Gulf of Mexico’s Coast, including the promotion of sustainable tourism, environmental awareness, and the stewardship of the Gulf Coast’s natural resources. This award will assist in the launch and operations of their new campus, the Gulf Coast Eco Center, a campus 12 years in the making. Here, they will offer both free and reduced-cost environmental education programming.
Southern University’s Bayou Summer Program, which received $50,000, provides an opportunity for high school students to gain firsthand knowledge about career opportunities in Agriculture, Family and Consumer Sciences and related disciplines. The goal of this program, that began in the 1980s, is to stimulate interest in careers opportunities available in these fields of study among high school students. The Foundation’s commitment will support more than 40 kids as they go through the summer program.
“Investing in communities isn’t only about making a financial commitment; it’s a pledge to nurture the foundation of our shared future,” says Aarika Plunkett, US Community Manager, Drax. “When we empower our community partners with resources and opportunity, we cultivate resilience, unity, and a lasting prosperity.”
The Drax Foundation funds initiatives that support education and skills development in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), as well as those that improve access to nature and community green spaces.
To learn more about the Drax Foundation and Drax’s community efforts, visit www.drax.com/community.
Contact Information:
Michelli Martin
Communications Manager, US
318-372-3988
[email protected]
About Drax
Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2040, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.
Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit http://www.drax.com/us
