Dominion Foundation donates $10,000 to CFC fuel program
 Mark A. Sullivan Jr., executive director of Citizens for Citizens, right, accepts a ,000 check for fuel assistance from Barry Ketschke, Dominion Energy Brayton Point Station director. The donation is from the Dominion Foundation. Mark A. Sullivan Jr., executive director of Citizens for Citizens, right, accepts a $10,000 check for fuel assistance from Barry Ketschke, Dominion Energy Brayton Point Station director. The donation is from the Dominion Foundation.
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FALL RIVER — Barry Ketschke, director of Dominion Energy’s Brayton Point Station, said that because of the effective work Citizens for Citizens does through so many programs it was chosen by the Dominion Foundation to receive $10,000.
The Somerset plant director called CFC “a great organization” and he recalled how a few years ago took part in Operation Christmas telethon then joined with station personnel in distributing toys to needy families at the Griffin Street office.
“We buy a lot of fuel to run the Somerset plant and we are very aware of the high cost of energy ourselves. Our employees live in the area. This donation from the foundation is to help area residents cope with the high cost of heating their homes.
“CFC is at the forefront of aiding those struggling to get by heat their homes this winter. The donation is our way of thanking CFC for its good work and for us to be part of the community.”
Mark A. Sullivan Jr., executive director of CFC, thanked the Brayton Point Plant director of “his generous contribution to help those who fall between the cracks.”
The CFC chief recalled past contributions the plant made to fuel assistance and he said it went “a long way” in helping area residents some of whom were just over the income level to qualify for the fuel assistance program.
He commented: “I thank you for your donation. We are all part of the general community. This contribution will help those who may have no other place to turn to get through this winter. No federal program takes care of all the problems facing our communities. High gasoline prices and hight heating oil costs have placed a serious financial burden on our area.”
The CFC executive director told Mr. Ketschke that the donation shows that the Brayton Point Plant management and employees, through its foundation are “good corporate citizens.”
He recalled that it was 30 years ago that he helped institute the fuel assistance program under the administration of Gov. Michael Dukakis and his cabinet secretaries. The program has changed very little since its inception three decades ago.
One thing that has changed, he noted, was that when the program first started at CFC in 1976 he had 84 people on the payroll and computerization has cut it to eight. He added, “I always regret that computers have cost so many jobs but our fuel assistance program at CFC is one of the most efficiently run operations in the country.”
Liz Berube, CFC fuel assistance director, said more than 13,000 homes will be served by CFC in Greater Fall River and Greater Taunton.
“We truly are seeing clients come in to CFC who are making a choice between, food, medicine or fuel and it is heartbreaking. This donation is a Godsend to those who have no where else to go to get assistance this winter.”
