With the intent to provide a three-year commitment to enrich the Academic Success program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, the Indiana Michigan Power Company’s Cook Nuclear Plant has today announced a $150,000 donation targeting that program. The team at the Cook Nuclear Plant says it is part of their commitment to its customers and improving lives in the local community.
Funding from the I&M Cook Nuclear Plant supports a full time Academic Success Coach at the Club’s Fettig Youth Campus for the next three years. The position will help create and track individualized academic achievement plans for K-8 grade members.
Mackenzie Kastl, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor, says, “Setting the foundation for our members to become life-long learners at an early age is absolutely critical,” and adds, “Positive adult relationships like those reinforced by our Academic Success Coach have a huge impact. We are extremely thankful I&M Cook Nuclear Plant is committed to the long-term educational success of youth in our community. With their support, we will be able to continue to expand increasingly important relationships with our members’ parents, teachers and school officials.”
The Club’s academic success goal is for every member to graduate from high school ready for college, career technical education, the military, or employment.
Joel Gebbie, Senior VP & Chief Nuclear Officer for American Electric Power, says, “We’re extremely proud to continue Cook Plant’s partnership with the Academic Success Program,” and notes, “It’s an important investment in the future. The successful educational development of our youth will make our whole community stronger in the long run. We want to see these kids get good jobs someday… many of them right here in Michigan’s Great Southwest.”
Located at 600 Nate Wells Senior Drive, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor has served the youth of Benton Harbor since 1998. The Club provides after school and summer programs promoting educational and career development, character and leadership development, and healthy lifestyles for nearly 1,500 youth and teens at the Fettig Youth Campus and Joel E. Smilow Teen Center. You can learn more at http://www.bgcbh.org.
The Cook Nuclear Plant is located on 650 acres along Lake Michigan’s eastern shoreline at Bridgman, and is owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an American Electric Power company (AEP). Cook’s Unit 1 began operation in 1975, and Unit 2 in 1978 with licenses extended through 2034 and 2037, respectively. At full power Cook provides more than 2,100 megawatts of electricity – enough for more than 1.5 million homes. Cook enjoys great support in the community, and returns that support through numerous contributions and thousands of volunteer hours to local organizations.
