San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 15, 2022 – This week, LUMA and the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American Red Cross announced the continuation of their partnership that provides communities across Puerto Rico with educational resources and programs for students and families focused on preparing for emergencies and improving electrical safety in the home. As part of this continued partnership, LUMA is donating $200,000 to the American Red Cross of Puerto Rico to further fund these educational programs and launch a new initiative, the Disaster Relief Program, which will provide aid, such as temporary shelters, clean water and food, to communities impacted by natural disasters.

“LUMA is excited to announce our continued partnership with the American Red Cross of Puerto Rico. Over the past year, we’ve partnered on several initiatives that have successfully provided emergency preparedness resources and education to communities across Puerto Rico. By supporting these programs and launching the new Disaster Relief Program, we are working together to accomplish our shared goal of building a better and safer future for the next generation of Puerto Ricans,” said Wayne Stensby, President and Chief Executive Officer of LUMA.

Since July 1, 2021, LUMA and American Red Cross have partnered in a number of programs that range from sharing educational videos and facilitating safety workshops to conducting free smoke alarm inspections and installations in local communities throughout Puerto Rico.

The programs that will continue to be funded through this partnership include:

• Prepare with Pedro – A collection of 30 to 45-minute educational videos featuring a penguin named Pedro that teach students in grades K-2 how to be prepared and act in the case of an emergency.

• The Pillowcase Project – Workshops that provide safety lessons to students in grades 3-5. Lessons include “How to Build an Emergency Kit,” where students use pillowcases to carry essential items and personal belongings when preparing for an emergency event. Last year, LUMA and the American Red Cross conducted 30 Pillowcase Project workshops, educating over 1,800 students through this program.

• Sound the Alarm – A free smoke alarm inspection and installation program for families in at-risk communities to promote safety in the home. Between July 2021 and May 2022, LUMA and the American Red Cross installed over 1,800 smoke alarms in homes across Puerto Rico.

“LUMA’s donation and commitment to our mission will help us prepare the next generation of youth to be ready for emergencies. With the renewal of our agreement, we will provide economic support to help them in their recovery process after a disaster strikes,” said Lee Vanessa Feliciano, Regional Executive of the American Red Cross, Puerto Rico Chapter.

With the continuation of this agreement, LUMA and the American Red Cross will also be expanding their community programs and education efforts to include the Disaster Relief Program, a new initiative focused on emergency preparedness as well as response and recovery before and after natural disasters. Through this program, LUMA and the American Red Cross are committed to responding to emergencies and providing aid where it’s needed across Puerto Rico. Relief efforts in this program include distributing essential goods like food and water filters to impacted areas, assisting Puerto Ricans with medical equipment needs, establishing safe shelters for those who are displaced from their homes and assessing damages in impacted areas.

When Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico in 2017, the American Red Cross supported recovery efforts across Puerto Rico by serving over 12 million meals, distributing 77,000 water filters and providing 2,700 generators for people with medical equipment needs. Through this continued partnership, LUMA and the American Red Cross are working to expand these relief efforts and increase Puerto Rico’s emergency preparedness.

About LUMA

LUMA is a Puerto Rican company that, since June 1, 2021, operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico. LUMA is a company driven by a mission to transform the electrical transmission and distribution system to provide all Puerto Ricans with the reliable, resilient, cleaner and affordable electrical grid they deserve. As a customer-centric company, LUMA’s entire workforce of more than 3,000 employees is focused on safely delivering an exceptional customer service experience to its 1.5 million customers.

About American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters, supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, teaches skills that save lives, distributes international humanitarian aid, and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojapr.net, or visit us on Twitter at @CruzRojaPR.