JEA Honors Local Agency Partners for Their Work in the Community

2022-10-20

JACKSONVILLE -- JEA hosted its eighth annual “Light it Forward” Awards today to honor local human services advocates for their dedication and commitment to serving Jacksonville residents in need. JEA created the awards in 2017 to recognize the people behind the scenes in local agencies who go above and beyond to help our customers in the community.

Chief Customer Officer Sheila Pressley thanked all of the agency representatives in attendance. “Where would we be as a community without all of you? Where would we be as a society without all of you?” Pressley asked. “We appreciate all that you do for our customers.”

Each year, these agencies provide millions of dollars in utility bill assistance to those JEA customers who face short-term financial challenges. Since May 2021, 21,993 JEA customers in need received a total of $10.6 million in utility assistance. That total came from: $4.2 million administered by local, government and faith-based organizations in fiscal year 2022; $6.2 million from Florida’s Homeowner Assistance Fund and Jacksonville’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program since May 2021.

JEA resumed the awards ceremony in person this year, after two years of virtual events due to COVID safety protocols. Representatives from nearly two dozen Jacksonville agencies that work collaboratively with JEA attended the ceremony.

The 2022 “Light it Forward” Award recipients are:

• Cassandra Brock, Northeast Florida Community Action Agency | Watch video
• Alexis Chatman, City of Jacksonville | Watch video
• Kathy Irvine, Northeast Florida AIDS Network | Watch video
• Regina Suggs, Northeast Florida Community Action Agency | Watch video

For more information on how JEA and its partners provide resources to customers in need, please visit jea.com/assistance.

About JEA

JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility located in Jacksonville, Florida, proudly serving an estimated 505,000 electric, 382,000 water, 302,000 sewer and 22,000 reclaimed water customers. JEA is not owned by investors. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to serve those who live in Jacksonville and in the surrounding communities. The sole purpose of JEA’s business is to ensure the electric, water and sewer demands of its customers are met, both today and for generations to come with the goal to provide reliable services at the best value to our customers while ensuring our precious natural resources are protected.

Media Contact:

Karen McAllister
(904) 665-5500
media@jea.com

Category:

• corporate
• customer