Gulf Power Company will recognize four community service organizations at its second annual “Power of Service” awards ceremony for Escambia and Santa Rosa counties this Monday. The company started the “Power of Service” awards in 2012 as a way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy of service and recognizes organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of others.

The organizations being recognized Monday include Sickle Cell Disease Association of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, A Will & Way, Inc., Carver Community Center Association, Inc. and Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. Each organization will be given a grant from Gulf Power and an inscribed award.

“Gulf Power is proud to recognize these organizations and the good work they do to strengthen our communities,” said Sandy Sims, Gulf Power’s manager of Community Development. “Dr. King lived a life of service to others and these organizations have that same commitment.”

Community leaders have been invited to the award ceremony and reception on Monday, Feb. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Five Sisters Blues Café in downtown Pensacola.

2013 Gulf Power “Power of Service” Recipients:

Sickle Cell Disease Association of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties supports a coordinated approach to addressing issues related to sickle cell disease. The association is dedicated to serving individuals and their families with sickle cell disease. The major objective of the association is to advocate, develop and implement programs and services to benefit individuals suffering from sickle cell disease.

A Will & Way, Inc. is a non-profit organization that offers Christian-based counseling and training, emergency assistance (food, clothing, transportation vouchers, phone cards, etc.), educational and employment assistance to women who are incarcerated or have been incarcerated. A Will & Way, Inc. partners with other organizations to affect positive results for women who would have no choice but to return to an old familiar life of drugs, alcohol and/or abuse and homelessness upon leaving jail.

The Carver Community Center Association, Inc. has been a big part of the Century, Fla. community for many years. The Center was started by a group of Senior Citizens in 1992, spearheaded by Leola Robinson, the mother of Dr. Marilyn Robinson, who now serves as the director. The Center provides a safe place for children to go after school and during the summer and offers year-round tutoring and other programs. The Center provides food for 70 to 100 children Monday through Thursday and serves as a Satellite office for Catholic Charities, United Ministries and Community Action. 

Community Enterprise Investments, Inc. facilitates the flow of capital, credit and financial services to traditionally low income, underserved populations. CEII’s focus is to create programs and services that produce lasting change in the quality of life of the individuals and households we serve. The organization promotes economic revitalization and community development in rural and urban communities by enhancing the ability of existing businesses to expand and for entrepreneurs to start new business ventures. CEII also creates stable neighborhoods and supportive housing environments that foster independence through affordable homeownership opportunities for first-time homebuyers and affordable rental units to low-income households. CEII is active in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties where properties are acquired, rehabilitated and then sold or rented to income eligible households.

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 430,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely provide exceptional customer value by delivering reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity while strengthening our communities. Visit online at GulfPower.com or on the company’s Facebook page, “Gulf Power Company.”

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