News Release > Entergy Arkansas philanthropic giving, volunteerism has record year

Entergy Arkansas philanthropic giving, volunteerism has record year

02/27/2025

1 in 3 employees volunteered, logged 30,000 hours; grant funds, donations top $1.8M  

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Philanthropic giving from Entergy Arkansas topped $1.8 million in 2024, with 240 nonprofit partners with similar missions to improve communities and the lives of its citizens across the state receiving grants of $5,000 on average.

While providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity to more than 733,000 customers round the clock, the company and its employees are also dedicated to giving back by donating dollars, time and energy to schools, towns and nonprofits across its 63-county service area.

To qualify for volunteer service and grants from the company, organizations must be:

• A public charity or private foundation that qualifies as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
• A state or local government, but only if the volunteer service/donation thereto benefits the public at large.
• A school, hospital, or religious institution that holds nonprofit status similar to that of 501(c)(3) organizations, but only if the volunteer service/donation thereto benefits the public at large.
• Certain tax-exempt war-veterans organizations, domestic fraternal societies and volunteer fire departments.

Across the company, those efforts are focused primarily on the broad pillars of poverty solutions, education and workforce development, and environmental programs. Those are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. Additionally, the areas of healthy families, arts and culture, and community enrichment are part of the Entergy Arkansas overall strategy to contribute to a society that is healthy, educated, environmentally safe and productive.

“We invest in solutions and partner with groups that come alongside our desire to improve the quality of life in Arkansas by helping those in need,” said Brandi Hinkle with Entergy Arkansas Corporate Social Responsibility. “Our employees do this each day as well, giving of their time and resources to help those who are disadvantaged.”

CSR is commonly defined as a business model that considers a company’s social and environmental impact in addition to its economic profits with voluntary initiatives that go beyond legal or industry obligations.

In 2024, Entergy Arkansas and its charitable foundation awarded nearly $2 million in grants from shareholders to nonprofit partners across the utility’s service territory in 2024, along with The Power to Care funds. Programs funded range from emergency response and relief services to scholarships and youth services, food pantries and community safety events.

Additionally, one out of every three employees volunteered in their community, with a total of 30,207 hours logged to improve the lives of our neighbors. Those hours equal a value of $1,011,632.43 in labor that nonprofits didn’t have to pay hourly wages to accomplish their important work.

“We encourage our employees to volunteer at least eight to 16 hours each year but incentivize them to go above and beyond that,” Hinkle said. “It’s not unusual to have employees volunteer 60 hours per year.”

Utility assistance for older, disabled customers

Nobody should have to choose between food, medicine or their utilities. However, many of our most vulnerable neighbors face that choice every day. The Power to Care provides Entergy Arkansas bill payment assistance for those in need and is funded entirely by Entergy customer, vendor and employee donations, which are matched dollar for dollar by shareholders.

The program is available to qualified adults aged 60 years or older, or individuals with disabilities who have annual incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of the state median.

Last year, generous donors provided more than $500,000 in assistance to Arkansans in need. The largest fundraiser for the program was The Power to Care Charitable Golf Tournament hosted and managed last fall by employee volunteers, which smashed its goal of $100,000 with a total of $127,000 in funds raised. Those dollars will be available to customers in 2025. For more information about how to give or apply for funds through The Power to Care, visit www.entergy.com/care.

Feeding those in need

Our focus on poverty solutions is rooted in the economic reality of the communities we serve, Hinkle said, which include some of the highest poverty regions in the country. Approximately 25% of Entergy Arkansas residential customers live below the poverty line with more than 40% falling within the ALICE threshold, those who are Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed. Additionally, one in four Arkansans faces food insecurity.

Many programs to help feed those in need have been given Entergy grants, including the Today’s THV Summer Cereal Drive with the Arkansas Foodbank. For the second year in a row, Entergy Arkansas was the top donor overall, with more than $30,000 donated. Each $1 can provide five meals for families in need.

Other feeding programs funded included -

• Arkansas River Valley Food 4 Kids
• Foodbank of North Central Arkansas
• Hickory Ridge Food Pantry & Clothes Closet
• Norfork Community Care Program Inc
• Lafayette County Food Pantry
• National Park Community College
• Oak Forest United Methodist Church Food Pantry
• Potluck Food Rescue in Pulaski County
• Second Chance Shelter in Cross County
• Sheridan Ministerial Alliance
• UA-Pulaski Tech

Protecting natural resources for generations to come

We invest in the critical foundations of our communities to create thriving places to call home, now and for future generations, Hinkle said. The strategy supports, conserves and restores biodiversity habitat, wetlands and local natural resources through education, funding and advocacy.

A few programs sponsored this year include:

• Apple Seeds – Farm to School Education
• Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation
• Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation
• Arkansas Zoological Foundation Inc
• Camp Aldersgate – Earth Advocates Program
• Keep Arkansas Beautiful
• Lake Hamilton Fire & Rescue
• Town of Keo City Cleanup
• Mcelroy House Organization Community Garden in Pope County
• Joseph Center of Arkansas

Healthy families thrive rather than survive

Children need a good start to grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults. With that in mind, we give to programs that have a direct impact on children educationally and emotionally, Hinkle said. That often includes wrap-around services such as family programs that better prepare providers to balance the demands of work and home with a variety of supports and resources.

A number of programs funded included:

• Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association
• American Heart Association
• Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary
• Brandon Burlsworth Foundation
• CARTI Foundation
• CASA of Garland County
• Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
• Conway Regional Health System Auxiliary
• Crossett Health Foundation
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arkansas
• Easter Seals Arkansas
• Frank and Barbara Broyles Legacy Foundation
• Jefferson Regional Medical Center Foundation
• Mission Clinical Services in Garland County
• Prevention Education Programs Inc. of Prairie County
• Restoration Of Hope in Stuttgart
• Ronald McDonald House
• The C.A.L.L. of Arkansas
• Wingz of Hope in El Dorado

In 2024, Corporate Social Responsibility efforts from Entergy Arkansas broke records in fundraising, giving and volunteerism, but the utility has set loftier goals this year and seeks partnerships to help accomplish that. Entergy Arkansas accepts grant applications and seeks volunteer opportunities year-round. For more information about the programs, visit www.entergy.com/csr/giving/.

About Entergy Arkansas

Entergy Arkansas, LLC provides electricity to approximately 730,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Arkansas, visit the Newsroom and connect with @EntergyArk on social media.