Representatives from Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission and Georgia EMC present a donation to The Burn Foundation of America. (Front Row: Steve Beaulieu, Georgia Transmission Member Relations Director; Katie Cook, The Burn Foundation of America Executive Assistant; Mike Smith, Oglethorpe Power President & CEO; Linda McKnight, The Burn Foundation of America President & CEO; Heather Teilhet, Oglethorpe Power Senior Vice President, External Affairs; Keith Daniel, Georgia Transmission Senior Vice President, Transmission Policy; Back Row: Steve Chalker, The Burn Foundation of America Chief Operating Officer; Barbara Hampton, Georgia Transmission President & CEO; Dennis Chastain, Georgia EMC President and CEO.
Augusta, GA (February 15, 2024) – Today Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission and Georgia EMC announced a donation of $10,000 to The Burn Foundation of America. Oglethorpe Power, Georgia Transmission and Georgia EMC serve not-for-profit electric membership corporations (EMCs) across Georgia that provide retail electric service to more than 4.4 million residents. Georgia’s EMCs employ line crews whose demanding responsibilities put them at potential risk of electrical contact during their work.
The Burn Foundation of America supports burn patients and their families at several burn centers in the U.S., including the Joseph M. Still (JMS) Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. If needed, EMC line crews would receive treatment at the JMS Burn Center, which is the largest in the country with more than 110 beds.
“Having access to a state-of-the-art burn facility is not just a privilege but a vital lifeline for those facing critical situations. We are proud to support The Burn Foundation of America and the important work they do to care for Georgians in need,” said Mike Smith, Oglethorpe Power President & CEO.
“Among the many wonderful reasons that make Georgia a great place to live and work is the access to world-renowned healthcare facilities — like the JMS Burn Center,” said Georgia Transmission President and CEO Barbara Hampton. “With utility workers facing inherent safety risks every day, the work of the burn foundation and JMS hits even closer to home, which is why it is a privilege to partner with them in their work through this contribution.”
“As the trade association for Georgia’s electric cooperatives, Georgia EMC devotes considerable energy year-round to safety and training, all aimed at keeping line workers safe while they perform the essential work of providing reliable electricity to their communities,” said Dennis Chastain, president and CEO of Georgia EMC. “While we always pray we will never need their services, we are grateful that EMC line workers have access to the Burn Foundation’s support close to home.”
“The Burn Foundation of America focuses on providing critical resources and support to individuals affected by burn injuries, including transportation, medication, lodging for family members, mobility devices and other burn-related items,” said Linda McKnight, President and CEO of The Burn Foundation of America. “This donation from Oglethorpe Power, Georgia EMC and Georgia Transmission will aid our foundation in continuing our mission of supporting families during patient treatment and improving the quality of life for burn survivors.”
To download a PDF of the press release, click here.
About Oglethorpe Power
Oglethorpe Power is among the nation’s largest power supply cooperatives and is one of the largest energy producers in Georgia. With more than $16 billion in assets, Oglethorpe Power owns and operates a diverse portfolio of resources to provide reliable, affordable, safe and environmentally responsible energy to 38 consumer-owned, not-for-profit Electric Membership Cooperatives (EMCs) who provide retail electricity to approximately 4.4 million Georgians. Through its investment in nuclear, natural gas, hydro and coal resources, Oglethorpe Power’s generation fleet has a combined capacity of more than 8,500 megawatts. For more information, visit www.opc.com.
About Georgia Transmission:
Georgia Transmission Corp., a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 38 Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs), owns more than 4,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and more than 770 substations. These facilities deliver power to Georgia’s EMCs, providing electricity to more than 4.4 million Georgians. For more information, visit gatransmission.com.
About Georgia EMC
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to approximately 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About The Burn Foundation of America:
The Burn Foundation of America provides assistance to burn patients and their families. This includes lodging, meals, transportation, medication, and anti-scarring garments – all free of charge. We believe in the healing power of having your loved ones nearby during the recovery process.
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