|
Pinnacle West enjoys a tradition of supporting employees who hold elected office in their communities and who serve on the boards of non-profit organizations across the state.
Company representatives work to strengthen business alliances throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area, including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), Greater Phoenix Leadership (GPL), WESTMARC and the East Valley Partnership. In addition, APS is involved in the Valley Business Council, which consists of representatives from all the Phoenix-area chambers of commerce.
The Pinnacle West Government and Federal Affairs department gives APS and Pinnacle West a voice in the law-making process at all levels, focusing on areas such as air quality, education, energy and transportation. Pinnacle West is active in alliances with governors, legislative leaders, trade groups and associations in the West, which focus on western-specific issues. Examples include West Connect, West Associates, Western Business Roundtable and the Western Regional Air Partnership.
The company also funds and supports civic organizations and sponsors events in a number of areas, including the arts and culture, community and economic development, education, the environment, and health and human services. Corporate grants in these areas for 2005 totaled over $4.5 million. In addition, APS In-Kind donations totaled over $430,000 in 2005.
Some of the significant company initiatives that address community needs throughout Arizona include:
- The Character Education Initiative, a program that fortifies the lives of America’s young people with consensus ethical values called the “Six Pillars of Character” – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship
- The APS Power Players program, APS’ newest program aimed at character-building education, sports field building and sports-related opportunities for kids. Power Players is a historic partnership between APS, Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Character Education Foundation
- Statewide crime prevention initiatives such as National Night Out and GAIN (Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods)
- APS’ Healthy Students/Healthy Schools Partnership – a cooperative effort among APS, Arizona school districts and hospitals that brings primary health care and disease prevention to students in need
- The APS/Phoenix Suns Education Mini-Grants Program. In 2005, the program gave away more than $10,000 to Arizona students
- The “Polly” Rosenbaum Writing contest for elementary school students. The annual contest receives applications from around the state. Winners are recognized at the annual Statehood Day celebration
- The Partners Advancing Student Success© program through which APS, Motorola and Communities in Schools have created a public/private/nonprofit partnership designed to bring business and education together and give students the skills they need to succeed in today’s business world
- Diversity activities including the annual Black Heritage Celebration, which is organized and produced by APS employees, as well as partnerships throughout the state with organizations like Chicanos Por La Causa, the Phoenix Urban League, the NAACP, the Chinese Cultural Community, Native American Connections, Valle Del Sol, Friendly House, the National Center for American Business Development and the Opportunity Industrialization Center
- The Challenger Space Center, which fosters science and math literacy and helps students develop the higher-level critical thinking skills. The company also sponsors the Arizona Science Center, teacher memberships, and related field trips and events.
- APS Generation’s Summer Teachers’ Workshop, which provides new and exciting ways to teach about energy while providing real-world experiences about the electric industry from people who work in it every day.
|
|
