It has been said you live life looking forward, but you understand life looking back. As we close out another fiscal year, it remains clear that our commitment to Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities remains stronger than ever as our philanthropic efforts continued to focus on three important pillars: kids, heroes, and neighbors.  

To fuel bright minds and healthy futures, we continued to support student literacy and food programs. In Spring Hill, Tenn., we surprised students and faculty at a new elementary school with a large donation to purchase books for its library. In Jackson, we donated to the Mississippi Book Festival, which is a party on the state capitol lawn that highlights the importance of reading. In Donaldsonville, La., the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office opened a new study commons at the Waguespack "WAG" Center, where Atmos Energy donated an Inchy Bookworm book vending machine.  

The impact from our partnership with Vooks continues to grow. In the past school year, Atmos Energy distributed more than 186,000 Vooks subscriptions to students and teachers across eight states in 432 different schools. In our footprint, students watched 6.9 million minutes, which equates to 1.7 million books read. 

“Vooks is a great resource that will provide children the opportunity to engage and interact with electronic reading materials anywhere the internet is accessible,” said Linda Waters, Louisiana vice president of public affairs. “With Vooks, we can impact literacy rates and help kids develop and become the future leaders we know they can be.” In total, we donated more than $2 million to support students over the past fiscal year. 

In Texas, Atmos Energy helps fuel healthy futures by exclusively sponsoring Arlington Charities’ annual Read & Feed program. The nonprofit’s mission to lead and engage the local community in the fight against hunger and poverty aligns perfectly with our goals. 

“When families in need drive up to receive food which they may need to last until their next paycheck, their smiles let us know we are making a difference,” said Al Hernandez, Mid-Tex manager of public affairs. “Then you see a child’s excitement and anticipation while picking out a book. It fills the heart to see the impact we are making with this program.”  

To fuel honor and thanks for our hometown heroes, Atmos Energy continued to find ways to show our appreciation for emergency responders, veterans, healthcare workers, and teachers. During September, our employees remembered and honored the sacrifices made on 9/11 by providing first responders with boxed lunches and rolling out cookers at community events. For National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, our public affairs teams (along with Gus and Rosie) made an appearance to show support. And after great success in 2023, Atmos Energy made another donation to Wreaths Across America and will participate in this year’s wreath-laying at more than 50 cemeteries on December 14 in our eight-state footprint. 

“There are so many ways to make a difference, and Wreaths Across America Day is a powerful reminder of how our actions can have a lasting impact,” said Kimberly Smith, Mid-Tex manager of public affairs. “For all of our veteran and military families, we want them to know that we are grateful for their service and sacrifice.” Over the past year, Atmos Energy donated nearly $1 million to honor our hometown heroes.  

To fuel hope and growth for our neighbors, Atmos Energy continued to support countless nonprofits, community action agencies, and programs aimed at helping the most vulnerable in our communities. In Bryan-College Station, Texas, our employees volunteered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace during the annual Year of Giving week to build 25 beds for children in need within the Brazos Valley. In Steamboat, Colo., employees prepared gardens at The Haven Assisted Living during United Way’s Day of Caring. And this fall, Senior Life Midland opened its new “Meals on Wheels Kitchen fueled by Atmos Energy”, where the organization uses natural gas appliances to prepare more than 500 meals a day. Our $150,000 contribution helped build a new kitchen twice the size of its previous facility to meet the growing demands of the Meals on Wheels program. 

Of the approx. $9 million donated to our neighbors, more than $7 million went towards our Sharing the Warmth program - the largest area of Atmos Energy’s philanthropic focus. This year, between our Sharing the Warmth program, LIHEAP, and other funding sources, a total of $22,606,405 million supported 57,022 households.  

At a Senior Source blitz in February, as one customer was leaving after receiving assistance, she leaned in to share a heartfelt moment with director of billing operations, Angela Harris. “I can now buy meat,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. 

In FY24, our employees volunteered 34,961 hours of their time, talent and treasures in the places they call home. 

Our employees are making a difference.