El Paso Electric Interns Complete Charitable Project for Armed Services YMCA

Newly built STEAM Lab unveiled to children of ASYMCA

El Paso, TEXAS –After three months of planning, organizing and executing their plan, El Paso Electric (EPE) interns were able to unveil the newly built STEAM Lab at the El Paso Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) on July 30, 2019, including a donation of $2,000 to help maintain the Lab through the year.

The STEAM Lab, complete with a 3-D printing station, robotics kits, microscopes and other useful supplies, is the first of its kind to be located at a childcare facility in El Paso and will serve upwards of 100 school-aged children. In addition to the STEAM equipment, EPE is also providing a curriculum of activities for the children to follow along and learn from.

“The STEAM Lab is an important and much anticipated project and will make a long-lasting impact on Fort Bliss and El Paso children,” said Diana Bengson, development manager of the El Paso ASYMCA. “It will close the learning gap of STEAM opportunities, especially for our military children.”

The charitable project was made possible by EPE’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative program led by the Utility’s summer college and high school interns, hundreds of volunteer hours and a $10,000 donation from EPE’s Community Partner Program.

“Giving back to those in need is very important because here in El Paso we need to grow together,” said Javier Villalba, intern with EPE Human Resources Department. “This year’s CSR project has helped impact the lives of children at the ASYMCA, as well as offer me insight on leadership, organization and even presentation skills.”

About EPE’s Summer Internship and CSR Initiative

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative is an effort that is completely led by EPE’s cohort of selected summer college and high school interns. EPE interns select an organization that serves the community, and through the annual CSR initiative they must plan, develop, and execute a project that will help expand the organization’s services. Through this project, students learn valuable lessons about teamwork and project management that will help them in college and beyond. In the past, interns have raised money to help renovate Aliviane’s Women’s and Children’s facilities (2018) and furnish a new building for the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (2017). Beyond the CSR initiative, EPE interns are offered real-world learning experiences by becoming team members to an EPE department.

About EPE’s Community Partner Program

El Paso Electric (EPE) actively participates in the community by supporting a diverse mix of civic and charitable programs through its Community Partner Program. EPE believes contributing to the communities it serves is an important part of its corporate responsibility, and, as such, it helps to define the Company’s purpose and commitment to its region.  

About the El Paso Armed Services YMCA

The Armed Services YMCA of El Paso (ASYMCA) was established in 1921 with the mission to enhance the lives of junior enlisted service members and their families. The ASYMCA is committed to promoting its goals of strengthening military families, supporting healthy lifestyles, reducing isolation and assisting service members and their families in connecting to their community.

About El Paso Electric

El Paso Electric is a regional electric utility providing generation, transmission and distribution service to approximately 428,000 retail and wholesale customers in a 10,000 square mile area of the Rio Grande valley in west Texas and southern New Mexico. El Paso Electric's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EE.