BCW Member Con Edison and Employees Donate Funding, Equipment and Service to Coronavirus Relief

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New York’s health-care professionals, food banks, police officers, firefighters and military personnel are just some of the many front-line groups battling the coronavirus pandemic. First responders are essential to the fight and to the fabric of the communities they serve.

Con Edison and its employees are their neighbors and recognize their service. The energy company and its thousands of employees have donated money, personal protective equipment, and utility services, and launched initiatives to assist community nonprofits throughout the five boroughs and Westchester County.

“These heroes are people we know, and they need our help,” said John McAvoy, CEO and chairman of Con Edison. “Our employees are also on the frontline maintaining essential electric, gas and steam services. By doing our jobs other first responders can do their work.”

Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, said that Con Edison has a long-standing reputation of service to the community.

“We would expect nothing less from Con Edison who has been there for this community during a long list of disasters from 9-11 to Hurricane Sandy,’’ said Gordon. “We are grateful for their continued support in difficult times.’’

The donations include:

• More than $300,000 to nonprofit organizations dedicated to feeding New Yorkers.
• A donation of $50,000 to the NYC Healthcare Heroes Fund to provide food, household cleaning and personal care products for health-care professionals.
• Employees have contributed more than $100,000 to various groups since March 1, and those donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by Con Edison.
• More than $40,000 to assist local police and fire departments and USO foundations.
• Employees at a Con Edison machine shop in the Van Nest section of the Bronx manufactured more than 40,000 plastic face shields. That essential equipment has been donated to health-care workers in Westchester.
• The company has donated nearly 100,000 N95 masks for health-care workers.

Con Edison crews also ran electricity lines to emergency hospitals in Central Park, at the Westchester County Center, and a drive-through testing center in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

“This pandemic has changed all aspects of our lives,” said McAvoy. “But it can’t shake our character and our grit.”