Renewable energy company Drax announced today it has given out nearly $100,000 to local community improvement projects across Central and North Louisiana. The funds, from Drax’s Community Fund, go towards initiatives that will improve quality of life and support grassroots activities in Louisiana. Drax operates two wood pellet plants in LaSalle and Morehouse parishes, respectively.
Since April 2024, Drax’s Community Fund has awarded $96,900 to ten organizations in Louisiana. Drax has a designated Community Team, with a U.S. Community Manager, and will soon add three Community Liaison Officers who will cover all seven of our operating regions. The Community Team has been actively engaged with community stakeholders to identify and understand the community’s needs and priorities.
“Our employees and the communities where we operate are at the heart of everything we do at Drax,”said Matt White, Executive Vice President, Pellet Operations, Drax. “These communities are our homes, and we want to help them grow and thrive. Our support impacts nearly 7,000 kids across North and Central Louisiana and we are excited to be able to continue being good neighbors to these communities.”
4 The Girls will get $10,000 to help the organization bridge the gap between transitional-age youth and their needs.
“Our mission is to support the emotional, mental, educational, social, and spiritual needs of our girls,” said Sheneka Hatfield, President of 4 The Girls. “Drax’s donation is helping support the work we’re doing to help these young girls become leaders in their homes, school, and communities.”
Ouachita Green will get $15,000 to continue their mission of preserving Ouachita Parish’s natural beauty, protecting the environment, preventing blight, leading litter abatement efforts, and providing environmental education.
“The partnership with Drax helps to keep our internship program alive,” said Sheila Kay Downhour, Executive Director of Ouachita Green. “Thanks to the support of Drax, we’re able to continue our clean-up efforts in the parish, but we’re also able to support our intern program. Those young people make all the difference in the work we’re doing to leave the world a little better than we found it, and Drax is a big part in keeping that good work going.”
The Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum will receive $12,000 to aid in providing a safe, educational place where children and families of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can play and learn together.
“Drax’s donation is helping us connect kids in rural areas to STEM learning,” said Melissa Saye, Executive Director of the NELA Children’s Museum. “Thanks to Drax, we’re able to bring this programming directly to school sites, ensuring equitable access to a variety of learning opportunities.”
Other organizations receiving awards include the Boy Scouts of America, LaSTEM, Goodhope Middle School, The Junior League of Monroe, St. Christopher Day School, Beekman Charter School, and Keep Morehouse Beautiful.
Prior Drax investments in Louisiana include scholarships for students through LEDD, donations to the Northeast Louisiana Food Bank, sponsored STEM-focused programs for children, and financial assistance to local groups following natural disasters. So far this year, $245,000 has been disbursed through the Drax Community Fund Year the U.S.
The non-profit organizations awarded through the Drax Community Fund applied for funding through an application process. An organization must submit an application to be awarded funding through Drax’s Community Fund. To learn more about the Drax Community Fund or to apply for funding, visit www.drax.com/communities.
Drax is also excited to announce the launch of two new websites. You can find out more about Drax’s operations in Morehouse and LaSalle parishes by visiting www.drax.com/morehouse or www.drax.com/lasalle. There, you’ll find information about job openings, career fairs, and FAQS.
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 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.
Drax’s approximately 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 www.drax.com.
