By Laura Farmer
Two centuries ago, BGE, Maryland’s largest provider of natural gas and electricity, pioneered new technologies to bring light to the streets and homes of Baltimore. A little over a century later, Kennedy Krieger Institute (then called the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute) sparked a paradigm shift in its groundbreaking approach to interdisciplinary care. Perhaps it was inevitable that these two trailblazing organizations would eventually forge a novel partnership.
It’s difficult to pin down when this partnership began, possibly because BGE employees have been volunteering with Kennedy Krieger for decades, stepping in when needed at fundraising events or behind the scenes to support the Institute’s patients and students.
Over the years, the partnership has evolved into a symbiotic relationship in which benefits flow in both directions: BGE provides financial and volunteer support to Kennedy Krieger, while Kennedy Krieger offers thought leadership and education for BGE employees.
“We love our partnership with Kennedy Krieger, and we want to make sure our employees are aware of all of the opportunities it provides,” says Saba Idriss, senior corporate relations specialist at BGE.
Last year alone, BGE employees volunteered at Kennedy Krieger’s annual Festival of Trees and ROAR for Kids events, and at a gathering to sort through donated pajamas for patients staying at the Institute’s inpatient rehabilitation hospital. BGE also supports the Institute through event sponsorships and the BGE Dollars for Doers program.
One group at BGE that has been instrumental in strengthening this partnership is ENABLED, a resource group serving employees of Exelon, BGE’s parent company, with disabilities or who are caregivers for people with disabilities. ENABLED members planned two lunch-and-learn sessions over the past year—one on pediatric mental health, the other about behavioral addictions in teens to social media, gaming and internet use. Both were well-attended, as their topics were ones to which any parent might relate.
We love our partnership with Kennedy Krieger.” – Saba Idriss
An annual highlight for BGE employees is decorating a holiday tree to be sold at the Festival of Trees to raise funds for the Institute. It’s emblematic of the larger BGE-Kennedy Krieger relationship: “BGE employees are always very excited to work together and see what they can create for the Institute,” explains BGE community engagement manager Rotica Lewis. “I truly value this relationship and all that it brings to BGE employees, and all it allows BGE employees to do to support Kennedy Krieger.”
