Ohio State Energy Partners responds to crisis, supports range of projects and research

Ohio State Energy Partners (OSEP) has dedicated $250,000 of its philanthropic contributions this year to emerging needs resulting from the coronavirus crisis, including financial assistance for students, COVID-19-related research and community enrichment through the arts.

As part of its commitment to academic collaboration at The Ohio State University, OSEP contributes $810,000 annually to the university or affiliated philanthropic causes.

OSEP directed $100,000 of its contribution this year to The Ohio State Student Emergency Fund, which provides financial assistance to students facing unexpected economic circumstances. The support comes at a critical time for students, many of whom face financial problems due to the pandemic. (How to contribute.)

“During autumn semester, we had about 80 requests for emergency funding. In just the last six weeks, we’ve topped 1,500 requests,” said Kim Pachell, director of the Student Advocacy Center. “The gift from Ohio State Energy Partners was positively amazing. Their support, in addition to a number of other donors, both small and large, has allowed us to help students in impactful ways.”

Ohio State also has launched the Together As Buckeyes emergency grant program, which is run through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students at any campus can learn more about the grant application process at go.osu.edu/covid-emergency-grants.

In addition to the student emergency fund, OSEP grants include:

• $75,000 in support of COVID-19 Connect, an initiative of the College of Public Health’s Center for Public Health Practice. The endeavor matches public health agencies and nonprofit organizations to the university’s expertise to support response and recovery projects.
• A $50,000 allocation to the university’s Office of Research, which partners with other Ohio State units in a grant-funding program focused on COVID-19 solutions. Funds will be used to support university teams and partnerships identified through this initiative.
• $25,000 for the Wexner Center for the Arts, providing a forum where established and emerging artists can test ideas, and where diverse audiences can participate in cultural experiences that enhance the understanding of the art of our time. The funds will be used to support projects or initiatives that have been adversely impacted by the facility’s temporary closure.

The remaining $560,000 will be awarded to programs and research priorities across the university, including increased access and affordability for studies abroad, support for the development of new fuel cell programs, and development of outreach initiatives to communicate sustainability research at Ohio State. The complete list is available online: go.osu.edu/energy-management

In 2017, the university and OSEP entered into the comprehensive energy management partnership, which launched an unprecedented energy efficiency program and established Ohio State as an international leader in sustainability. OSEP is a joint venture between ENGIE North America and Axium Infrastructure. The university’s Energy Academic Collaboration Council provides support for the grant program.