A Child's Laugh Brings A Smile To Every Face

I remember taking my children to the local park while they were growing up and watching them run around, make friends and most importantly, laugh. They had the wonderful opportunity of being able to play in a safe place. Unfortunately, many children growing up in poverty don’t have such opportunities. They don’t have access to safe playgrounds that encourage them to stay active by playing with friends. That’s why PSEG teamed up with KaBoom, a national non-profit dedicated to creating safe play spaces for children. Last week, Joe Forline, PSE&G’s Vice President of Customer Solutions, was among 50 PSEG employees who volunteered and joined with KaBoom, the Cooper Foundation and the City of Camden to build a playground at Whitman Park in Camden, New Jersey.

“This particular build was so important to me because I grew up in Camden County,” said Forline. “With our volunteer support, we can make parts of a community just a little brighter. The only way we can do that is by working hand in hand with community leaders and residents. That’s why these KaBoom builds are so successful.”

It is not only Camden children who are benefiting from our employees teaming up with KaBoom.

Three years ago, Superstorm Sandy devastated large portions of Moonachie and Little Ferry. More than 100 PSEG employees rallied to support the residents of these towns by building playgrounds. These three playgrounds will give children the opportunity to the playtime they need and deserve.

Employees like Steve Calvanese who worked on the Moonachie project said the work gave him an opportunity to make a difference.

“If you were living in New Jersey during Superstorm Sandy, it’s hard to forget the devastation that many of us personally as well as people in our surrounding communities faced,” he said. ”When an opportunity came up to volunteer to clean up an area in Moonachie devastated by Sandy, I jumped at the chance.”

Our dedicated employees are our most important asset. We have an outstanding, diverse workforce who is committed to driving PSEG forward while at the same time, give back their own time to support causes that matter to them. Many things have changed in the 100 years since Public Service was founded, but an unwavering commitment to the community – both by the company and by our employees has remained a constant.

Some days that means giving children a place to play.