AEP/PSO Donates to Youth Services of Tulsa
Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), a subsidiary of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) has announced a $50,000 social and racial justice grant from the AEP Foundation to Youth Services of Tulsa (YST) to support the organization’s Transitions Program: Putting Youth on the Path to Self-Sufficiency. The program addresses the issue of homelessness for those 17 to 24 years old by providing housing and skills needed to transition to self-sufficiency and permanent housing.
The announcement was made at a press conference that included PSO President and Chief Operating Officer, Peggy Simmons and David C. Grewe, Executive Director of Youth Services of Tulsa, shown above.
The AEP Foundation is the charitable arm of AEP and is partially funded by PSO. The gift is part of the foundation’s Delivering on the Dream: Social and Racial Justice grant program, which is a five-year commitment to fund organizations with programs dedicated to advancing social and racial justice in communities served by AEP.
“Through our long association with, and support for, Youth Services of Tulsa, we at PSO and AEP are keenly aware of the many social issues that lead to youth homelessness,” said Simmons. “On behalf of the AEP Foundation, we are pleased to announce this grant to help promote equity and opportunity so young people may achieve self-sufficiency and find their path forward to a successful life.”
In 2020, the AEP Foundation began the Delivering on the Dream program to award social and racial justice grants to organizations that play pivotal roles in working to eliminate systemic racism. The grant to YST is the AEP Foundation’s first Delivering on the Dream grant awarded in Oklahoma.
“Youth homelessness is a significant challenge here in Tulsa and across the country,” said Youth Services of Tulsa Executive Director David C. Grewe. “YST will house more than 100 youth this year, equipping them with the skills and supports they need to gain independence, achieve their educational and employment goals, and realize their full potential.”
