Fundación Naturgy, responsible for developing the energy company's social programs, has opened the call for the fourth edition of its award for the best social initiative in the energy sector. Each year, the award recognizes projects that involve social improvements related to energy in areas such as the environment, health, education, vulnerability, social inclusion, or entrepreneurship. The first prize is 60,000 euros and the runner-up receives 30,000 euros.
The competition aims to recognize and give visibility to entities and institutions that develop social projects such as Enchufados al Empleo, by Fundación Exit, or Generando futuro, by Asociación Norte Joven, both with job placement programs focused on the energy sector to combat school dropout. These are some of the winners and runners-up from the three previous editions, which received almost 200 applications, benefiting around 590,000 people.
Also among the winners were Ni un hogar sin energía, by Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo (Ecodes), and Contribuir a la mejora social de los más vulnerables en España, a través de la formación y el acceso a la energía, by Energía sin Fronteras. In second place were proposals such as the programs Educación Financiera Familiar y Pobreza Energética, by Fundación de Familias monoparentales Isadora Duncan, and Ayuda integral a la vulnerabilidad energética, by Fundació Roure.
For the general director of Fundación Naturgy, María Eugenia Coronado, the celebration of a fourth edition of the awards takes on "special importance" at a time marked by the global energy crisis, which is economically and socially impacting a large part of the Spanish population. "It is necessary that from the private sector we promote this type of initiatives, whose objective is to fight against energy poverty, and that we make visible the great work carried out by social organizations in our country," she defends.
The period for submitting applications for this fourth edition will be open until February 28. Projects that are underway or completed, always developed in Spain, may apply. Applications can be submitted on the Fundación Naturgy website.
The jury of the Award for the best social initiative in the energy sector is chaired for the first time by Manuel Bretón, president of Cáritas Española. The jury is completed by Alberto Núñez, professor of the Department of General Management and Strategy at Esade; Llum Delàs, trustee of the Fundación de la Esperanza; Salvador García-Atance, president of the Fundación Lealtad; Father Ángel García Rodríguez, president of Mensajeros de la Paz; Juan José López Burniol, vice-president of the Fundación Bancaria La Caixa; Josep Ramoneda, director of the European School of Humanities of Barcelona; Elena Salgado, president of the Spanish Association of Consulting Companies; Javier Senent, president of Cruz Roja Española; Gustavo Suárez Pertierra, president of Unicef Comité Español; Jordi Garcia Tabernero, vice-president of the Fundación Naturgy, and María Eugenia Coronado, its general director.
In addition to this award, the Naturgy Foundation promotes the Solidarity Fund for Energy Rehabilitation, the Energy School, and Energy Volunteering. So far, more than 150,000 people have benefited from these initiatives.