Energy East Foundation doles out money

Since the NYSEG Foundation went kaput in 2004 (see this previous post), the Energy East Foundation has been dispensing money to charitable causes. Fewer local charities are benefiting from the company's coffers.

According to the 2006 tax return filed by the organization (the latest available), the following charities received checks from the Energy East Foundation:

• American Red Cross: $50,000
• Barbara Bush Children's Hospital Program $20,000
• Gulf of Maine Research Institute $50,000
• Catskill Area Hospice Hope Foundation, Oneonta: $10,000
• Rebuilding Together $50,000
• Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse, Binghamton $5,000
• Gettysburg Foundation $50,000
• Birls & Girls Club of America $50,000
• The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts $30,000
• Association of Small Foundations $2,500

Total giving in 2006: $317,500

Anyone know the rationale for some of these contributions, especially the Gettysburg Foundation, which is out of the service territory.