For Immediate Release
May 28, 2020

National Grid’s $10,000 Donation to College’s Emergency Covid-19 Fund Supports Students in Time of Need

L to R: National Grid’s Belinda Pagdanganan who is also a Suffolk County Community College Trustee and a member of the Board of Directors of the Suffolk Community College Foundation; Sylvia A. Diaz, PhD, LMSW, the Foundation’s executive director and Keith Rooney, National Grid’s Director of Customer and Community Management for Downstate, New York.

National Grid, Long Island’s natural gas provider, has made a generous $10,000 gift to Suffolk County Community College’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund. The fund provides critical financial assistance to students at Suffolk County Community College whose lives have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic and has supported more than 550 students to date.

The emergency aid has helped students facing financial hardships and of whom 95 percent are now unemployed. Many students have also lost healthcare coverage and are facing food insecurity challenges.  Several have also lost parents, grandparents or other loved ones.  National Grid’s gift will provide students with direct support to keep students enrolled at the college and provide some financial assistance for basic needs while they study remotely.

“As a Suffolk County Community College Trustee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Suffolk Community College Foundation and a veteran employee at National Grid, I am so very proud of this partnership and the promise it represents for our students,” said Belinda Pagdanganan.  “National Grid and Suffolk County Community College are two wonderful, compassionate and caring institutions committed to providing our neighbors with support during these difficult times.”

“National Grid came to the aid of our students when it was most needed” said Suffolk County Community College Interim President Louis Petrizzo. “On behalf of our students, and all of us at Suffolk, we extend our sincere and heartfelt thanks.”

“The Suffolk Community College Foundation enjoys a long and collaborative relationship with our colleagues at National Grid, explained Sylvia A. Diaz, PhD, LMSW, the Foundation’s executive director.  “Their generous support comes at a time when our students are suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are thankful and appreciative for National Grid’s dedication and commitment to Suffolk’s promising students as they face hardships along their pathway to success.”

Donate to the Covid-19 Emergency Fund at: https://justgiving.com/campaign/sccf-covid19