Spectrum announced a donation of $1,000 to the Fernande Valmé Ministries, Inc. (FVM) through the company’s national community philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants. The grant will be used to support food pantry distribution, job search, and placement.
FVM was selected by Spectrum based on the nomination and volunteer work of company employee Fabienne Pean, a Multi-Tenant Sales Supervisor. Ms. Pean, originally from Flatbush, Brooklyn, and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, has volunteered with the organization for 12 years. She is an active board member and travels to New York City several times a year to help FVM with their food pantry and other events. Ms. Pean also virtually volunteers with FVM’s English as a Second Language program for students in Haiti.
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“Through Spectrum Employee Community Grants, we’re proud to provide support to vital community organizations with which our employees are already volunteering their time and talent,” said Mike Williams, Regional Vice President of the NYC Region for Spectrum. “Together, we’re building stronger communities where our customers and employees live and work across America.”
FVM is a nonprofit organization that works to respond to those in desperate need of aid and provides humanitarian support to families by providing nutrition, education, healthcare and disaster relief. It was founded by the late Evangelist Fernande Valmé with a mission to educate and serve the less fortunate.
Based in Flatbush, FVM anchors the Haitian and Haitian American community, helping them meet some of their social needs as they navigate the challenges of immigrant life. FVM also offers services such as English as a Second Language instruction, food pantries, teen counseling, afterschool program, and a youth summer camp.
“FVM is extremely grateful for the support provided by Spectrum,” said Rhode Valmé, President of FVM. “With this grant, we can help our community through our food pantry and assist with job search and placement. Helping and giving back is what we know, and this is what my late mother instilled in us. I’m so happy to continue her work. Who would think that a woman who could not read and write would read through the eyes of so many.”
Ms. Pean added, “I’m grateful for the Spectrum Employee Community Grant because this gives me an avenue to help others. We are lucky to have a job that supports our needs and our interests. My goal is to help and serve the community where my family still resides, and through my work with FVM, I can give back to those in need.”
Spectrum Employee Community Grants has provided funding to more than 573 local nonprofits in 35 states throughout the company’s service area since its inception in July 2019.
Recipients deliver critical social services, helping underserved residents meet basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, job training and neighborhood safety. Each awardee is nominated by one of the company’s more than 101,000 U.S. employees who have volunteered with the organization for at least one year.
More information on Spectrum’s philanthropic initiatives, including Spectrum Employee Community Grants, is available here.
