Avangrid Foundation Invests $50,000 in Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders to Expand Workforce Development Opportunities for Local Community

• Press Room
• Press Releases
• Avangrid Foundation Invests $50,000 in Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders to Expand Workforce Development Opportunities for Local Community

Avangrid Foundation Invests $50,000 in Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders to Expand Workforce Development Opportunities for Local Community

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - October 15, 2026 - The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading energy company Avangrid Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, today announced a $50,000 grant to Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders (BCYL) to support education, career readiness, entrepreneurship, trades training, and digital literacy programs for local middle and high school students. The foundation's grant reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening communities across Connecticut and creating pathways to opportunity for the next generation.

"What makes this partnership especially meaningful is seeing the impact firsthand," said Pablo Colón, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation. "This week, we had the opportunity to meet local students participating in BCYL programs and hear about their goals and aspirations. Those conversations reinforce why the Avangrid Foundation invests in organizations like BCYL that are preparing students from the communities we serve to be the next generation of leaders, workers, and community members."

The announcement comes the same week as leaders from Avangrid and the Avangrid Foundation joined students and educators at a BCYL workforce development event in Bridgeport. During the visit, participants connected with students enrolled in BCYL's college readiness and trades programs who heard firsthand from Moses Rams, Chief Line Officer for United Illuminating, an Avangrid company, about careers in the energy industry and skilled trades.

Announced during Hispanic Heritage Month, the investment supports an organization that reflects and serves the Bridgeport community, where more than 40% of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. Through this partnership, the Avangrid Foundation is investing in an organization deeply rooted in Bridgeport that helps young people build the skills, confidence, and experience needed to pursue college, careers, or opportunities in the trades.

"Avangrid's partnership represents an investment in the future of Bridgeport's youth," said John Torres, Executive Director of Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders. "We are grateful for Avangrid's commitment and the engagement of its team members in exposing our students to career pathways, higher education, skilled trades, and workforce opportunities that will prepare them to thrive as the next generation of leaders and professionals."

Funding from the Avangrid Foundation will support four education and job readiness programs offered to students at no cost, including: Students Understanding Career & College Expectations to Succeed (SUCCESS), Young Entrepreneurship Leadership (YELT), Trade Assessment Prep Program (TAPP), and Tech Explorers. Together, the programs help students develop practical workforce skills, explore career pathways, prepare for apprenticeships, strengthen digital literacy, and connect with mentors and industry professionals.

The grant is expected to directly benefit 75 students and indirectly support an additional 225 individuals through BCYL's career readiness and economic inclusion programming. Funds will support program facilitation, software and educational resources, student stipends, transportation to educational and workplace site visits, college tours, and driver's education opportunities that help remove barriers to employment.

Media Contact
For media inquiries, email: [email protected]

About Avangrid: Avangrid, Inc. is a leading U.S. energy company investing in grid infrastructure and power generation projects to deliver reliable energy and meet growing electricity demand. With approximately $50 billion in assets and operations across 25 states, Avangrid is helping modernize the U.S. electric grid, improve system resiliency, and support economic growth for the customers and communities it serves.

Avangrid owns and operates seven electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. Avangrid also has nearly 100 energy generation facilities across the United States and more than 11 gigawatts of installed capacity. Avangrid has more than 8,300 employees and was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2026 for the eighth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the Iberdrola Group.

About Iberdrola: Iberdrola is one of the world's biggest energy companies and a leader in renewables, spearheading the energy transition to a low carbon economy. The group supplies energy to almost 100 million people in dozens of countries. With a focus on renewable energy, smart networks and smart solutions for customers, Iberdrola's main markets include Europe (Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and Greece), the United States, Brazil, Mexico and Australia. The company is also present in growth markets such as Japan, Taiwan, Ireland, Sweden and Poland, among others.

With a workforce of nearly 40,000 and assets in excess of €141.7 billion, across the world, Iberdrola helps to support 400,000 jobs across its supply chain, with annual procurement of €12.2 billion. A benchmark in the fight against climate change, Iberdrola has invested more than €130 billion over the past two decades to help build a sustainable energy model, based on sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.