Corporate Community Leader - The Lansing Board of Water & Light

The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) has made a lasting impression in the greater Lansing area. Every year, the BWL hosts four of its own events supporting local charities and organizations. These events are the Adopt a River cleanup program, BWL 5K, BWL Golf for Charity and BWL Chili Cook-off. Together, these events take hundreds of hours and approximately 300 volunteers to successfully pull off. The result has been an impressive $30,000 annual donation from the proceeds to local charities, including the Sparrow Foundation, Impression 5, H.O.P.E. Scholarship Program and more. The Lansing Board of Water & Light has been a tremendous community partner with the Sparrow Foundation, which benefits Sparrow Hospital. In 2017, BWL participated in several fundraisers and events, including the 43rd annual “Kaleidoscope: Reflect. Recharge, Reimagine,” which empowers and inspires local women and benefits Women Working Wonders fundraising initiatives. Every year, BWL give nearly $200,000 back in sponsorships to local charities, events and fundraisers. One of those recipients is BWL’s Pennies for Power charity, which provides one-time utility shutoff protection for struggling families in the BWL service territory. The Pennies for Power charity brings in almost $50,000 from customer giving alone. Through all of the events and giving, the Board of Water & Light has developed a culture of service that permeates throughout its leadership and employees.