Employee-Led Giving Creates Impact for Northern Nevada Communities

Since we first announced plans to begin operations in the Reno-Sparks area nearly a decade ago, Panasonic Energy North America (PENA) has been showing up and showing out to support the people and communities of Northern Nevada. Our local involvement takes shape in a variety of ways, from employee volunteerism and charitable contributions to corporate partnerships and funding for nonprofit organizations serving the needs of people in the region—particularly for children in at-risk and underserved communities.

Many of our philanthropic efforts are made possible through PNA Cares, a fund dedicated to strengthening and enriching local communities in Northern Nevada. The focus and impact of PNA Cares is guided by employees, who join in choosing the local organizations and initiatives that receive PENA support and sponsorship, including the following recent highlights:

• In honor of Black History Month, we funded the purchase of more than 1,000 new and diverse books to be distributed by “Spread the Word Nevada,” a children’s literacy non-profit that places books into the hands and homes of children to inspire a love of reading, promote future academic achievement and self-confidence, and impact lifelong success.
• With an ongoing commitment to support the local fight against hunger—including the more than 50% of area students who are experiencing some form of food insecurity—we recently donated 5,000 meals to the “Souper Bowl of Caring” campaign, the second-annual food and funding drive produced by the Food Bank of Northern Nevada.
• As a longtime partner of the Education Alliance of Washoe County, PENA and our Nevada employees provide ongoing support through volunteering, financial contributions, and even serving on the organization’s board of directors. Last December, we were honored to sponsor a Willy Wonka-themed annual fundraising event called, “An Evening of Pure Imagination.” Our sponsorship, along with the generous contributions of other donors, helped generate critical funds help grow and expand the Alliance’s support of academic achievement and workforce development for pre-school to college students.

Other recent efforts include our contributions to more than 15 additional nonprofit organizations focused on a variety of regional issues, including housing instability, equitable access to STEM education, and environmental sustainability, among others. With every dollar donated and hour volunteered, the PENA Northern Nevada team is demonstrating our shared commitment to adding value and taking care of the communities in which we live and work.