We all want strong, successful communities. That’s why Unitil invests in community development through cash donations, sponsorships, in-kind donations and volunteerism. Our goal is to help our communities be good places to live and work, with a vibrant social network — a place where people and businesses choose to locate, to grow and to prosper.

    Cash Donations

Unitil supports local agencies and non-profit organizations in a variety of ways. Larger cash donations are allocated each year towards a number of high-impact programs, many of which also benefit from strong employee involvement.

We occasionally make a multi-year pledge; in recent years Unitil has committed a total of $25,000, each, to the Fitchburg Riverfront Park, the Concord Hospital Payson Cancer Center and the UNH Foundation, and $10,000 to the Literacy Fund of North Central Massachusetts.

In addition, committees at each Unitil location work to ensure that smaller, more local community development needs are met. In this way we support literally hundreds of worthwhile community efforts. Finally, Unitil’s matching gift program matches any employee’s donation to a non-profit of their choice, up to $100 per year.

    Sponsorships

An active community hosts many successful events. Unitil helps promote these activities with sponsorships as well as employee participation. We encourage active involvement by our employees in social, civic and professional organizations, and we back that support with financial sponsorships. These efforts run the gamut from local sports events to fund-raising dinners to advertising in the school boosters’ program.

    In-Kind Donations

The nature of Unitil’s business offers us a unique opportunity to provide in-kind assistance. Our bucket trucks are often in demand for putting up poles, or hanging banners or holiday lighting. We also give away our used computers and telephone equipment, and even donated a fish tank to a local science center.

We assist at blood drives, offer technical expertise and serve on local boards and committees. We also host community events at our facilities, and recently offered spare office space to the United Way of North Central Massachusetts for an extended period, while their building undergoes renovation.

    Volunteerism

Our employees are the heart of our organization, and their volunteer efforts are the heart of our community development program. In some cases, employees dedicate personal time to a cause that began as an in-kind contribution. Unitil supports these efforts with a Community Service Benefit, which allows employees to spend eight hours a year in community service during regular work hours at full pay.

They can choose their own activities — and often do, volunteering in the public schools, clearing trails for the AMC or walking dogs for the SPCA — or they can participate in Unitil-sponsored events such as the United Way Day of Caring, the NHPTV Auction or the Longsjo Classic Bike Race.

Our employees are as generous with their money as they are with their time. Employees in all Unitil locations are actively involved with the three United Way organizations that serve our communities, and they back up this involvement with payroll donations to the United Way. They also lead fund-raising walks and give to many other causes, large and small.

    In Your Community

The company's corporate giving program strives to meet community needs within the cities and towns it serves. In an effort to "give back" to the very communities that determine its success, Northern Utilities targets corporate contributions to five key areas:

• Human Services
• Education
• Arts & Culture
• Community Support
• Environment