Having access to affordable and renewable energy sources is a key factor in today’s society, however, Millions of people around the world fight energy poverty every day. In this context, the role of different organizations is key to guarantee basic rights to the most vulnerable population.
It’s not just about providing direct assistance to those struggling to pay their bills, but about educating and promoting long-term sustainable initiatives. At the Naturgy Foundation they are committed to the active search for solutions to end energy vulnerability and, for this reason, they open the call for the VI edition of the ‘Award for the best social initiative in the energy field’. This recognition seeks to give visibility to the people, entities and institutions that contribute in the social field with projects linked to energy.
In the last edition, the Responsible Energy Foundation (formerly Fundación Luz Solidaria) managed to win first prize with its program ‘Fight against Energy Poverty’. Based in Castelldefels, they work to guarantee access to energy for the most vulnerable families. Thanks to their work, more than a thousand people each year can receive personalized advice in the energy field, process their electrical and thermal social bonus, or get help for bill management.
“Our role is to facilitate access to the aid that already exists, analyze and evaluate each personal situation and complement the work of administrations and third sector entities. Currently we collaborate with more than 100 organizations that are located throughout the national territory,” explains Isabel Jiménez, president of the Foundation.
However, that was not the first time that the Foundation presented its candidacy. “In 2022 we decided to submit to the Naturgy Foundation Awards with the purpose of also learning about other initiatives and sharing experiences. That year we were finalists and for us it was a great recognition. In 2023 we presented ourselves again and had the honor of being recognized with the first prize,” says the president.
“This recognition is a great boost for us: on the one hand, it helps us to give visibility to energy poverty that many Spanish homes suffer, while It allows us to dedicate more resources to fighting it. This award has helped us expand aid to families, at a critical time since in 2023 the energy poverty data in Spain had exceeded 20%,” adds Jiménez.
“This award has helped us expand aid to families at a critical time”
The president of the Responsible Energy Foundation considers that this Naturgy initiative “has managed to make visible and recognize the work of all the entities that are presented, converting energy into an opportunity to be an engine of social change.”
VI edition of the ‘Award for the best social initiative in the energy field’
“This award, which reaches its sixth edition this year, is the result of the determined commitment of the Foundation to address energy vulnerability as a wholepromoting initiatives that work from different perspectives and are aimed at people whose living conditions are affected by this situation. This year we increased the financial allocation to contribute to the financing of a greater number of social projects, which translates into a greater number of people benefiting,” explains María Eugenia Coronado, general director of the Naturgy Foundation.
In this edition the amount of the awards has increased substantially. The first prize will be up to 100,000 euros (previously 60,000) and the runner-up prize will be up to 50,000 (previously 30,000). In addition, it will be the first time that the projects of the finalist entities will obtain financial recognition. Naturgy Foundation will give up to 8 awards of 10,000 euros for the finalist projects.
All those projects (ongoing or completed) that have been developed in Spain with the aim of carry out energy-related social improvements in the areas of vulnerability, health, education, social inclusion, entrepreneurship or the environment, among others, will be welcome in this sixth edition of the awards.
In order to aspire to one of the recognitions, applicants must present their proposal at the Naturgy Foundation website before February 28, 2025. “This recognition from the Naturgy Foundation is a huge boost for the initiatives that are presented, also for those that do not win an award, since it is a platform for knowledge and dissemination of the important social work carried out in our country and its notable impact and, therefore, for finding synergies, strengthening ties and promoting networking.” , indicates Manuel Bretón, president of Cáritas Española and president of the jury.
Applications must be submitted before February 28, 2025
In addition to Bretón, The jury is made up of: Alberto Núñez (professor of the Department of General Management and Strategy of ESADE), Llum Delàs (patron of the Hope Foundation), Father Ángel García Rodríguez (president of Messengers of Peace), Juan José López Burniol (vice president of the Foundation “la Caixa”), Josep Ramoneda (director of the European School of Humanities of Barcelona), María del Mar Pageo (president of the Spanish Red Cross), Gustavo Suárez Pertierra (president of UNICEF Spanish Committee), Jordi Garcia Tabernero (vice president of the Naturgy Foundation) and María Eugenia Coronado (general director of the Naturgy Foundation).
Five editions and 338 applications
Throughout its five editions A total of 338 applications have been submitted that have had an impact on more than a million beneficiaries. In previous editions, the winning projects were: ‘Not a home without energy’, from the Ecology and Development Foundation (Ecodes); ‘Plugged into employment’, by the Exit Foundation; ‘Access to energy’ by Energy Without Borders; ‘Strategy to combat energy poverty’ of the Spanish Red Cross; and the aforementioned Responsible Energy Foundation project.
More than 30 years of commitment
Naturgy Foundation has been advocating for social action programs since 1992, especially those aimed at ending energy vulnerability. With more than 270,000 beneficiaries since its launch in 2017, the Energy Vulnerability Plan of the Foundation is one of the main activities to support families in situations of energy poverty.
In 2018, the Foundation completed the Plan by launching the Solidarity Fund for Energy Rehabilitation to minimize the effects of energy poverty. Since then he has made express rehabilitations in 4,500 vulnerable homes and residential centers. To complete this Plan, Naturgy promotes social innovation linked to renewable energies with the help of social entities with initiatives such as these awards.
Naturgy Foundation has been advocating for social action programs since 1992.
Furthermore, it has a corporate volunteering program that operates in different areas and which, since its launch in 2018, has benefited more than 35,000 people. These achievements have been possible thanks to the collaboration of the Naturgy Foundation with foundations, educational centers, companies, universities and administrations that join forces to build a more humane and sustainable society.
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